Falconhead Capital Forms GPSI Holdings, World's Leading Provider of Cart-Mounted Gps Services to Golf Courses

Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:00am EDT
 
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Three-Way Merger Creates Market Leader With Systems Deployed on Nearly 1,000
Courses; Extensive Synergies Position New Company for Long-Term Success

Partners With Greg Norman
NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
Falconhead Capital, LLC, a private equity firm specializing in consumer-focused
businesses in the leisure, lifestyle, sport and media categories, today
announced the formation of GPSI Holdings, LLC ("GPSI"), the world`s leading
provider of cart-mounted GPS services to golf courses. GPSI was created through
the acquisition of and subsequent three-way merger of GPS Industries, Inc.,
ProLink Systems, Inc., and a series of assets previously owned by David
Chessler, who has been named CEO of GPSI. GPS Industries was acquired through a
sale process conducted under Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Financial
terms of the transactions were not disclosed. 

Falconhead has immediately established GPSI as the leading player in the golf
cart-mounted GPS industry globally, with systems deployed on nearly 1,000
courses predominantly in North America and Europe. Falconhead expects that the
acquisition of these businesses at very attractive valuations, and their
combination, will result in significant cost, revenue and technological
synergies that will position GPSI for significant profitable growth. In
particular, GPSI will implement extensive product and service improvements that
will benefit customers and enhance the playing experience for players around the
world. 

Falconhead`s partner in GPSI is Greg Norman, the professional golfer and head of
Great White Shark Enterprises, a corporation primarily focused on golf. Mr.
Norman, a long-time member of Falconhead`s advisory board, was involved in
conceiving and executing the transactions. He will own a significant equity
stake in GPSI and has entered into an agreement to promote the company`s
business. 

As part of GPSI`s long-term growth strategy, the Company has established an
exclusive partnership with Club Car to leverage its sales force of more than 120
representatives and its extensive global distribution network. Club Car, a
member of the Industrial Technologies sector of Ingersoll-Rand plc (NYSE: IR),
is a leading manufacturer of golf cars, utility vehicles and a wide range of
task-oriented vehicles serving multiple markets. 

David S. Moross, chairman and chief executive officer of Falconhead Capital,
said: "We are proud to create the leading provider of cart-mounted GPS services
to golf courses. The transactions that led to the formation of GPSI Holdings
further demonstrate our ability to pursue and complete complex investment
opportunities, and the new company is highly complementary to our investment
strategy given our long ties to golf, and our expertise in leisure and
lifestyle. By bringing together these three businesses, we have created a new
company with the financial strength, operational efficiency, technology
expertise, business model and geographic reach necessary to succeed over the
long term. 

"We are fortunate that our friend Greg Norman is our partner in GPSI, given his
immense stature in the golf world as a player and businessman. We look forward
to working together to further build this powerful platform," Mr. Moross
concluded. 

Mr. Norman said, "This transaction further promotes the consolidation of the
industry which started with GPS Industries` acquisition of UpLink in late 2008
and now includes the merger with ProLink and ProView. This consolidation,
together with other strategies, several of which specifically capitalize on the
current economic landscape, will position GPSI to realize its full potential. It
has been a pleasure to work closely with David and the Falconhead team, and we
look forward to a very successful venture." 

About Falconhead Capital

Falconhead Capital, LLC (www.falconheadcapital.com), with $500 million of assets
under management, is a private equity firm established in 1998 to provide
investors with significant long-term capital appreciation by investing globally
in consumer-focused businesses in the sport, leisure, lifestyle, and media
categories. In addition to NYDJ, Falconhead Capital's current portfolio
investments include Competitor Group, Inc., Extreme Fitness, Inc., Not Your
Daughter`s Jeans, Our365 (f/k/a Growing Family), Escort, Inc., and Premier, Inc.
Past Falconhead portfolio investments include, among others, National Powersport
Auctions, Maritime Telecommunications Network, The Golf Warehouse, and ESPN
Classic Europe, LLC. 

About Great White Shark Enterprises

Great White Shark Enterprises is a multi-national corporation headed by Greg
Norman with offices in West Palm Beach, Fla., and Sydney, Australia. The company
administrates a variety of businesses including Greg Norman Golf Course Design,
Greg Norman Collection (apparel), Greg Norman Estates (wine), Greg Norman
Production Company (event management), Medallist Developments and Southern Cross
Developments (real estate development), and numerous other merchandising and
licensing arrangements. 

About GPSI Holdings LLC

Headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, GPSI Holdings develops, manufactures and
sells new and refurbished cart-mounted GPS distance measurement devices along
with the related infrastructure for use with golf course operations, and
provides service required to properly maintain the units. Golf courses benefit
from GPSI`s systems through increased customer satisfaction, improved course
management, potential revenue generation and enhanced safety.

Kekst and Company
Mark Semer or Caroline Gentile, 212-521-4800 



Copyright Business Wire 2009

 

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