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PMCF Investment Banking (“PMCF”) is pleased to announce that it served as the exclusive investment banker to Group Publishing, Inc. (“Group” or the “Company”) in its sale to David C Cook (“DCC”).
Headquartered in Loveland, Colorado, Group began as a magazine publisher in 1974 when the Company’s founder discovered an underserved market in providing resources, connections, and products to youth ministers across the United States. Today, Group is a leading provider of ministry resources for the Christian church, serving an interdenominational clientele that includes Protestant, Catholic, Mainline, Evangelical, and non-denominational communities. The Company’s expertise and vertical integration allow for the creation of industry-leading Vacation Bible School (“VBS”) and Sunday School Curriculum content.
Founded in 1875, David C Cook is a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing dynamic and creative leadership, discipleship, and worship resources to help Christians all over the world grow in their faith and pass it on to the next generation. DCC specializes in the creation and distribution of age-appropriate Sunday School materials for kids. Integrity Music, part of the DCC family, is committed to taking songs of substance to the local church and its leaders around the world.
PMCF served as the exclusive investment banker to Group, managing the entire transaction process. Thom Schultz, Founder of Group Publishing, remarked, “It was a pleasure working with the team from PMCF on the sale of our business. The team showed throughout a sense of professionalism, attention to detail, tenaciousness, and flexibility. Our transaction experienced a number of unusual detours, and the PMCF team adapted and kept things on track until completion.” Rocky Gilmore, Group’s Legacy Chief Operating Officer, also remarked, “PMCF provided professional project management based on their years of experience. They took care of coordinating the hundreds of details that would have been overwhelming without their expertise.”
Jayson Gitt, Director of PMCF, added, “Every transaction takes on a life of its own and this was no different. We enjoyed working with and advising long-time Plante Moran client, Group Publishing, and finding the ideal partner. The Company’s 50-year journey from a small, local magazine publisher to one of the industry’s most well-known brands is extremely impressive. We look forward to watching the next chapter unfold in collaboration with David C Cook.”
The transaction closed in October 2024. Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck served as the legal advisor to Group Publishing.
About PMCF
PMCF is a client-centric middle market investment bank providing merger and acquisition advisory services to private, public, and private equity-owned companies worldwide. We combine our expansive industry and transactional expertise with highly engaged senior-level bankers to create tailored solutions for all our clients. PMCF helps clients meet their sale, acquisition, financing, and strategic growth objectives through a broad range of services, including sale advisory, acquisition advisory, capital raising, transaction planning, and strategic advisory. We have dedicated professionals focused on key industry verticals including business & technology services, manufacturing, distribution, transportation & logistics, plastics & packaging, healthcare, and consumer & retail industries.
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