Graham Holdings Company Acquires Group Dekko
Group Dekko is pleased to announce that it has been acquired by Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC); an Arlington, VA based diversified education and media company whose operations include educational services; television broadcasting; online, print and local TV news; home health and hospice care; and manufacturing. Group Dekko was previously owned by funds managed by GSO, the credit arm of Blackstone (NYSE: BX).
“This acquisition by Graham Holdings is a major milestone in our growth journey,” said John May, chief executive officer of Group Dekko. “Graham Holdings’ financial strength and long-term investment horizon is a perfect fit for our business. We could not have found a better partner.”
“Under John May’s leadership, Group Dekko has established a strong platform and team to support innovation and continued growth. We wish Group Dekko and Graham Holdings the best in their future endeavors,” said Vince Lu, a managing director, at GSO.
About Group Dekko
Group Dekko is a trusted electrical solutions company that focuses on innovative power charging and data systems, industrial and commercial indoor lighting solutions and the manufacture of electrical components and assemblies for medical equipment, transportation, industrial and white goods products. The company, founded in 1952, is headquartered in Garrett, IN with 1,300 associates across seven facilities in three states and Mexico.
About Graham Holdings Company
(www.ghco.com) Graham Holdings Company (NYSE:GHC) is a diversified education and media company whose operations include educational services; television broadcasting; online, print and local TV news; home health and hospice care; and manufacturing. The Company owns Kaplan, a leading global provider of educational services; Graham Media Group (WDIV–Detroit, KPRC–Houston, WKMG–Orlando, KSAT–San Antonio, WJXT–Jacksonville); The Slate Group (Slate and Panoply); and Foreign Policy. The Company also owns Trove, a social news aggregator; SocialCode, a leading social marketing solutions company; Celtic Healthcare and Residential Healthcare Group, home health and hospice providers; Joyce/Dayton Corp., a manufacturer of screw jacks, linear actuators and lifting systems; and Forney Corporation, a manufacturer of burners, igniters, dampers and controls for combustion processes in electric utility and industrial applications.
About GSO
GSO Capital Partners LP is the global credit investment platform of Blackstone. With approximately $81 billion of assets under management, GSO is one of the largest alternative managers in the world focused on the leveraged-finance, or non-investment grade related, marketplace. GSO seeks to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns in its business by investing in a broad array of strategies including mezzanine debt, distressed investing, leveraged loans and other special-situation strategies. Its funds are major providers of credit for small and middle-market companies and they also advance rescue financing to help distressed companies.
