CARY, N.C. - Global Knowledge, the worldwide leader in IT and business skills training, today announced that it has been included in the 2013 Grant Thornton North Carolina 100® (NC100) list. Released annually, the NC100 spotlights the 100 largest privately held companies in North Carolina, celebrating the essential role they play in the state's economy.

"We are honored to be among the top privately held companies contributing to our state's economy," said Brian K. Branson, Global Knowledge chief executive officer and president. "With the range of industries represented, we are enthusiastic about our state's prospects as well as Global Knowledge's ability to continue to fulfill the growing demand for superior IT and business training in North Carolina and around the world."

For more than 25 years, Grant Thornton LLP, the US member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the world's leading organizations of independent audit, tax, and advisory firms, has created the NC100 to highlight the "tenacity, grit, staying power, and business acumen" required of high-ranking North Carolina companies. According to Grant Thornton, "This exclusive award identifies and celebrates the successes of dynamic privately held businesses that have unlocked their potential for growth."

About Global Knowledge

Global Knowledge is the worldwide leader in IT and business skills training, with more than 1,500 courses that span foundational and specialized training and certifications. Our core training is focused on Cisco, Microsoft, Avaya, VMware, Red Hat, IBM, business process improvement, and leadership development. We deliver via training centers, private facilities, and the Internet, enabling our customers to choose when, where, and how they want to receive training programs and learning services. Founded in 1995, Global Knowledge employs more than 1,300 people worldwide and is headquartered in Cary, NC. The company is owned by New York-based investment firm MidOcean Partners.

About the Grant Thornton North Carolina 100 Awards

For more than 25 years, the Grant Thornton North Carolina 100 (NC100) has ranked the state's largest private companies. Inclusion in the NC100 is voluntary, and rankings are based on revenue in the most recent fiscal year. To be considered, companies must be headquartered in North Carolina, may not be a subsidiary of another company and cannot have publicly traded stock. Nonprofit, financial-services and health-care companies are excluded from the ranking, however, companies owned by private equity are allowed. Nominations for the award were received between May 15 and July 30. Survey results are published in the October issue of Business North Carolina magazine. For more information, visit www.GrantThornton.com/NC100.

About Grant Thornton LLP

Grant Thornton LLP is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd. Grant Thornton International Ltd and its member firms are not a worldwide partnership, as each member firm is a separate and distinct legal entity. In the United States, visit Grant Thornton LLP at www.GrantThornton.com.