Wilton, CT – April 1, 2010. Saugatuck Capital Company is pleased to announce the sale of The TharpeRobbins Company, Inc. (“TharpeRobbins”) to an investor group led by Gridiron Capital and the TharpeRobbins management team.

Saugatuck Capital Company acquired The Tharpe Company (“Tharpe”) in December 2001 and led a successful recapitalization of the Company in 2004 in which one-half of the original investment was returned to the shareholders. In 2007, TharpeRobbins was formed through the merger of the Robbins Company, founded in 1892, into Tharpe. Under the leadership of John Tharpe, the founder of Tharpe in 1981, and Brett Tharpe, the current Chief Executive Officer, and an extremely talented management team, the Company evolved into an industry innovator in managed recognition and managed employee award programs.

Founded in 1982, Saugatuck is a long-established private investment firm committed to leveraged recapitalizations, buyouts, and growth equity investments in the lower middle-market. Sourcing investment opportunities through an unparalleled network of contacts, Saugatuck invests in profitable, well-established, service-driven businesses. The firm has been dedicated to a philosophy of hands-on value creation in which exceptional management teams, in partnership with Saugatuck’s capital and expertise, build outstanding companies.