OKEE Industries Inc., a West Hartford-based distributor of architectural hardware and doors, has been acquired by a North Carolina-based specialty distribution company.
The Cook & Boardman Group LLC, based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, announced Friday it had acquired OKEE and its family of companies, which include Builders Hardware Inc. of East Haven, Construction Hardware Inc. of Norristown, Pennsylvania, and Hardware Specialties Inc. of Westfield, Massachusetts. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Founded in 1947, OKEE distributes a variety of commercial doors, frames, and hardware in those three states. The company’s headquarters is listed on its website as 91 Shield St., in West Hartford, but it sold the 30,186-square-foot building at that location in December for $1.7 million to a buyer in Florida.
Cook & Boardman is a specialty distributor of commercial doors, frames and hardware, electronic access control equipment and specialty products. It also provides integrated security services, including physical security, access control, wireless networking, low-voltage cabling, and audio/visual and managed information technology products.
David Eisner, CEO of C&B, said OKEE is a respected company in the industry. “They will expand C&B’s coverage in the Northeast and their team brings a wealth of experience to our continuing efforts to provide superior customer service,” he said.
OKEE will continue to operate under the OKEE Industries, Builders Hardware, Construction Hardware and Hardware Specialties names, C&B said, adding that customer contacts will remain unchanged as a result of the acquisition.
Platinum Equity acquired a majority interest in Cook & Boardman in 2023. Littlejohn & Co. LLC also remains a significant minority shareholder. The transaction represents C&B’s third acquisition under Platinum Equity’s ownership.
