MidOcean Partners Announces Agreement To Sell GK Holdings, Inc. To Rhône Capital L.L.C.

NEW YORK, November 10, 2014 – MidOcean Partners, a New York based private equity firm targeting investments in the middle market, is pleased to announce that it has agreed to sell GK Holdings, Inc. (“Global Knowledge” or “The Company”), the largest worldwide corporate training company, to investment funds affiliated with Rhône Capital L.L.C. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Global Knowledge is the leading global provider of IT and business skills training, educating over 200,000 corporate professionals across 22,000 class sessions each year. The Company has a long history of developing relationships with preeminent global technology companies including Cisco, Microsoft and VMware. In addition, Global Knowledge has developed a significant library of proprietary content across a number of IT and business skills training categories.

“Global Knowledge has been an excellent investment for our firm,” said Ted Virtue, CEO of MidOcean Partners. “We have enjoyed the opportunity to partner with a strong management team and to leverage the Company’s leading market position to take advantage of a growing and increasingly important industry.  MidOcean was also able to apply its methodologies and expertise to position the business for sustained growth and success going forward.”

During MidOcean’s ownership period, Global Knowledge achieved significant organic revenue and EBITDA growth. The Company has greatly accelerated its virtual learning offerings, expanded its technology education partnerships including the addition of IBM and Amazon Web Services and broadened its proprietary content suite within technology and business skills.

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated and Kirkland & Ellis LLP advised Global Knowledge in the transaction.  Credit Suisse, Macquarie and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP advised Rhône.

About Rhône Capital
Rhône was established in 1996 and is a global private equity firm with a focus on investments in market leading businesses with a pan-European or transatlantic presence and expansion prospects. Rhône’s investment philosophy includes the development of strong, strategic partnerships with the companies in which it invests. Rhône has offices in London and New York and currently holds investments in a diversified portfolio of companies including investments in the business services, chemicals, consumer products, food, industrial, materials, mining, and shipping industries.