Houlihan Lokey Advises DEI Holdings, Inc.

Transaction: Houlihan Lokey Advises DEI Holdings, Inc.

Houlihan Lokey is pleased to announce the successful placement of debt financing for DEI Holdings, Inc., a portfolio company of Charlesbank Capital Partners. Proceeds of the financing were used to finance the acquisition of D+M Group, refinance existing indebtedness, and pay related fees and expenses. The financing consisted of a revolving credit facility, senior secured term loan, and mezzanine loan. Houlihan Lokey served as exclusive placement agent to DEI regarding the issuance of both senior secured and mezzanine debt. The transaction closed on February 28, 2017.

DEI, a portfolio company of Charlesbank since 2011, is the largest supplier of premium home theater loudspeakers and a leading supplier of sound bars and wireless music systems in North America through its Sound United division (sold under Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, and Polk BOOM brand names) and the largest supplier of consumer-branded vehicle security and remote-start systems in North America through its Directed division (sold under Viper, Clifford, Python, Autostart, and other brand names).

D+M, owner of the Denon, HEOS by Denon, Marantz, and Boston Acoustics brands, is the largest supplier of audio/video receivers worldwide and a leader in wireless multiroom audio. The acquisition and integration of D+M with DEI's Sound United division will combine some of the most prestigious brands in the consumer audio space, providing synergy opportunities for the existing core businesses while also unlocking the potential to expand the product portfolio and market reach.

Based in Boston and New York, Charlesbank is a middle-market private equity investment firm managing more than $3.5 billion of capital. Charlesbank focuses on management-led buyouts and growth capital financings, generally investing in companies with enterprise values of $150 million to $1 billion, and also engages in opportunistic credit investments. The firm seeks to partner with strong management teams to build companies with sustainable competitive advantage and excellent prospects for growth.

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