A History of The Gores Group
In 1978, Alec Gores founded Executive Business Systems, a hardware and software distributor, which he sold eight years later to establish what has become The Gores Group today. Since 1987, The Gores Group has grown and evolved into a leading investment firm and established brand. The distinctive history of the firm has shaped our ability to create value in situations characterized by complexity and operational opportunities. Here are a few of the milestones in our history:
Alec Gores, Founder and CEO
TIMELINE OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
2022 – Transaction: Polestar
Gores Guggenheim completes business combination with Polestar, global premium EV company
2022 – Transaction: Sonder
Gores Metropoulos II completes business combination with Sonder, a leading next-generation hospitality company
2021 – Transaction: Ardagh
Gores Holdings V completes business combination with Ardagh Metal Packaging, a global leader in the supply of sustainable and infinitely-recyclable beverage cans
2021 – Transaction: Matterport
Gores Holdings VI completes business combination with Matterport, the spatial data company leading the digital transformation of the built world
2021 – Gores Guggenheim, Inc.
$800 million raised for Gores Guggenheim
2021 – Gores Technology Partners II, Inc.
$460 million raised for Gores Technology Partners II
2021 – Gores Technology Partners, Inc.
$275 million raised for Gores Technology Partners
2021 – Gores Holdings VIII, Inc.
$345 million raised for Gores Holdings VIII
2021 – Gores Holdings VII, Inc.
$550 million raised for Gores Holdings VII
2021 – Transaction: UWM
Gores Holdings IV completes business combination with United Wholesale Mortgage, the #1 wholesale mortgage lender in the U.S., resulting in the largest SPAC business combination to date
2020 – Gores Holdings VI, Inc.
$345 million raised for Gores Holdings VI
2020 – Transaction: Luminar
Gores Metropoulos completes business combination with Luminar, global leader in automotive lidar hardware and software technology
2020 – Gores Holdings V, Inc.
$525 million raised for Gores Holdings V
2020 – Transaction: PAE
Gores Holdings III, Inc. completes $1.6bn acquisition of PAE, leading provider of mission-critical services to the U.S. government and armed forces
2020 – Gores Holdings IV, Inc.
$425 million raised for Gores Holdings IV
2019 – Gores Metropoulos, Inc.: $400 Million Raised
2018 – Acquisition: Verra Mobility
Gores Holdings II, Inc. completes the acquisition of Verra Mobility, the leading provider of tech-enabled smart transportation solutions
2018 – Gores Holdings III, Inc.
$400 million raised for Gores Holdings III
2018 – Private Investment Office Launches
Addition of the Gores Private Investment Office to the Gores platform – primarily investing capital on behalf of the Gores family and like-minded co-investors
2017 – Gores Holdings II, Inc.
$400 million raised for Gores Holdings II
2016 – Acquisition: Hostess
Gores Holdings, Inc. completes $2.5bn acquisition of Hostess Brands from Apollo Global Management and Metropoulos & Co., raising additional $350mm PIPE
2016 – Sold: Etrali
Gores’ first Gores Small Capitalization Fund exit
2016 – USF Asia Expansion
US Farathane expands into Asia with Boston Plastics acquisition
2015 – IPO: Gores Holdings, Inc.
Gores Holdings, Inc. completes $375mm IPO
2015 – Sold: Therakos
Sold Therakos to Mallinckrodt in Gores’ largest transaction to date
2014 – Sold: Sage Automotive Interiors
Sold Sage Automotive Interiors; first significant exit in GCP III
2013 – IPO: Stock Building Supply
Stock Building Supply goes public, marking Gores’ first U.S. IPO
2012 – Gores Small Cap: $300 Million Raised
Raised $300 million in connection with debut small capitalization fund
2011 – Sold: Lineage Power
Sold Lineage Power to GE following successful carve-out / turnaround
2011 – GCP III: $2.1 Billion Raised
Gores closes on $2.1 billion in capital commitments for its third institutional fund
2010 – Sold: Vincotech
Vincotech sold to Mitsubishi Electric, further demonstrating Gores’ global reach
2008 – Joint Venture: Siemens AG
Entered into JV with Siemens AG, further establishing Gores’ reputation in Europe
2007 – GCP II: $1.3 Billion Raised
Gores closes on $1.3 billion in capital for its second institutional fund
2004 – GCP I: $400 Million Raised
Raised $400 million for first institutional fund, GCP I
2003 – Acquisition: Anker
Netherlands-based Anker BV, an independent European supplier of point of sale solutions, is acquired, firmly positioning Gores as one of the most credible investors in European assets
2000 – Carve Out: The Learning Company
Gores carves out The Learning Company from Mattel and achieves an operating profit in the first 75 days of ownership
1998 – Carve Out: Adventa
Gores carves out certain assets of the Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) organization of Texas Instruments (NYSE:TXN); the portfolio company is later named Adventa Control Technologies
1997 – Carve Out: Connection Machines
Gores carves out the Connection Machines business unit from Thinking Machines Corporation
1997 – Carve Out: Artemis
Gores acquires Artemis, a subsidiary of Computer Sciences Corporation (NYSE: CSC)
1987 – The Gores Group Founded
