IGP exits Grakon

Industrial Growth Partners has closed its sale of Grakon to Methode Electronics for $420 million. Based in Seattle, Grakon is a maker of lighting systems and components for the transportation sector.

PRESS RELEASE

San Francisco, CA – Industrial Growth Partners is pleased to announce the sale of Grakon Parent, Inc. to Methode Electronics, Inc. (NYSE: MEI) for $420 million in a transaction that closed on September 12, 2018.

Grakon, headquartered in Seattle, WA, is a global leader in the design, development and manufacture of advanced lighting systems, controls and components for premier OEM customers in the heavy truck, bus, rail, electric vehicle and power sports markets.

Original Acquisition Details
IGP, together with members of the management team and certain outside investors, purchased a controlling interest in the Company in October 2014. During IGP’s ownership, Grakon aggressively pursued its strategic growth initiatives by investing heavily in human capital, manufacturing capacity and technical capabilities to expand its global operations and product line offering. Additionally, through the strategic acquisitions of Toronto, Canada-based Hamsar and Manchester, United Kingdom-based BMAC, Grakon added new manufacturing locations in North America and Europe while accelerating the Company’s penetration into several new end markets. These investments, alongside the Grakon management team’s consistent ability to execute on the Company’s long-term strategic initiatives, positioned Grakon for its next phase of growth.

Dave Paborsky, CEO of Grakon, commented:
“IGP proved to be an incredibly valuable partner over the last four years. IGP’s unique industrial investment focus and deep manufacturing experience enabled us to advance our operating capabilities, launch several product categories and enter into new end markets. IGP was an outstanding steward of Grakon, and ultimately, the support and resources they provided were instrumental in helping us better serve our customers and achieve our long-term strategic goals.”

IGP, founded in 1997, is a San Francisco-based private equity investment firm with $2.2 billion of equity capital raised since inception. The firm invests exclusively in middle-market companies in the industrial and industrial services sector in partnership with management teams.