Company Overview
Founded in 1947, OKEE Industries (OKEE) has grown to be one of the largest commercial entry hardware distributors in the Northeast. Suppling the region’s architectural building industry with entryway framing, door and security options, the ESOP-owned company takes pride in its high level of efficiency in fulfilling customer order specifications through their strategic footprint of warehouse facilities, shops and their trusted network of relationships with a range of manufacturers. OKEE business leaders credit the dedication and experience of their employees, from the skilled shop personnel to the knowledgeable sales professionals, in driving the Company’s success across more than seven decades.
Situation
The Board of Directors of OKEE was assessing management succession strategies with the goal of ensuring that the Company would maintain its core values of employee empowerment and its record of success long into the future. It was determined that a strategic sale of 100% of the Company’s assets to a third-party buyer would provide the best long-term home to the business and its employees, while providing a liquidity event to the ESOP participants.
Solution
OKEE engaged Griffin Financial Group, the affiliated investment bank of SES ESOP Strategies, to guide the process of selling the business to a third party. Griffin ran a successful process where they assisted OKEE in selling 100% of its assets to The Cook & Boardman Group (C&B), a leading distributor of commercial entry solutions and systems integration services. During this process, Griffin provided guidance and support on financial due diligence, negotiated transaction terms with C&B and closed the transaction. Notably, Griffin executed an accelerated negotiation process between the buyers that identified the best sale opportunity and allowed the transaction to close in June 2024 with C&B – all within a rapid time frame of six months. Stevens & Lee, the affiliate law firm of SES ESOP Strategies and Griffin Financial Group, represented OKEE in the sale and negotiated transaction-related documents.
As a result of the sale, OKEE is positioned to expand its regional coverage and will continue to operate under its well-reputed name. Further, the former employee owners of OKEE will achieve significant liquidity through the sale.
For more information about this transaction, please contact Edward Renenger at 610.478.2238, Ken Wanko at 215.285.7190 or Vince Capone at 215.508.7716.