Houlihan Lokey Advises GCI Outdoor

Houlihan Lokey is pleased to announce that GCI Outdoor, Inc. (GCI or the Company) has been acquired by MacNeill Pride Group (MPG), a portfolio company of Centre Partners (Centre). The transaction closed on April 22, 2021.

GCI Outdoor was founded in 1996 after founder Dan Grace asked this simple question: “Why isn’t there a chair for this?” That question was answered when Dan, utilizing his engineering background, designed the Everywhere Chair®, the patented hillside adjustable chair. In 1998, Jeffrey Polke joined as co-owner, bringing his sales, marketing, and retail experience. Together they’ve grown GCI Outdoor with innovative product designs and unsurpassed customer service.

MacNeill Pride Group® is a diversified global holding company with business units that participate in numerous industries. MPG's core business platforms are the recognized leaders in their respective markets and are trusted partners to some of the world's most recognizable brands and retailers.

Centre Partners, founded in 1986, is a longstanding and leading middle-market private equity firm. With offices in New York and Los Angeles, Centre specializes in making control investments in North America–based businesses, primarily in the consumer and healthcare industries. Centre seeks to partner with experienced management teams that are passionate about their businesses, have meaningful economic stakes in their companies, and are looking for more than capital from a financial partner.

Houlihan Lokey acted as exclusive financial advisor to GCI and assisted in initiating and negotiating the transaction on its behalf. This transaction reinforces Houlihan Lokey's strong global franchise in the outdoor and active lifestyle industry.

Houlihan Lokey’s Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) practice assisted with seller preparedness and issued a Quality of Earnings report on the company. TAS served as a key component to the seller’s finance function by supporting and advising the director of finance throughout the transaction.