Global investment firm KKR announced in early October the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire The Crosby Group (“Crosby”) and Acco Material Handling Solutions (“Acco”) from Melrose Industries PLC for approximately $1.0 billion

With roots dating back to 1885, Crosby is a leading global provider of highly engineered solutions for lifting and rigging applications across the oil and gas, construction, mining and industrial sectors.

Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Crosby has over 1,300 employees globally and is known for its iconic brands, including Crosby, McKissick, National and Lebus.

Acco, headquartered in York, Pennsylvania, has 130 employees and provides custom-built specialty material handling equipment, including a full line of hoists, industrial cranes, monorails, carts and trailers that are sold under the well-recognized Louden, Wright and Nutting brands.

Pete Stavros, a Member of KKR and Head of the Industrials investing team, stated: “Crosby and Acco have long and distinguished histories of providing distributors and end customers with the highest quality products and customer support to meet their lifting and rigging needs. We are excited to partner with the many dedicated employees of both companies and look forward to working together to begin a new chapter of growth and global expansion.”

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Rothschild and Simmons & Company International served as lead financial and M&A advisors to KKR, and Morgan Stanley, UBS Investment Bank, and RBC Capital Markets also served as M&A advisors. Fully committed financing will be provided by Morgan Stanley, UBS Investment Bank, and KKR Capital Markets. Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to KKR.