Sell Side Advisor

Duff & Phelps Advised WordLock Inc. on its Sale to Howard Berger Company, Inc.

Duff & Phelps is pleased to announce that Howard Berger Company, Inc. (“HBC”), a leading hardware products company, has acquired WordLock Inc. (“WordLock” or the “Company”), a portfolio company of a consortium of investors including Kohlberg Ventures.

About WordLock Inc.

WordLock designs and markets innovative, word-based personal security products, including padlocks, bike locks, and combination locks. The Company sells its products through a large network of retailers in the home and hardware, general merchandise, sporting goods, travel, and office supply verticals. The Company was founded in 2007 and is based in Santa Clara, California.

About Howard Berger Company, Inc.

Howard Berger Company, Inc., a portfolio company of Littlejohn & Co. LLC, manufactures and markets home and hardware products. HBC was founded in 1971 and is based in Monroe Township, New Jersey.

About Littlejohn & Co. LLC

Littlejohn & Co. LLC is a private equity firm focused on investing in middle-market companies. Littlejohn manages capital commitments in excess of approximately $2.4 billion. Littlejohn was founded in 1996 and is based in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Transaction Role

Duff & Phelps was engaged as the exclusive financial advisor to WordLock Inc. to provide investment banking advisory services in connection with its sale to Howard Berger Company, Inc.



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