GracoRoberts, a distributor of specialty chemicals and advanced composite materials to the aerospace and defense industry, announced a strategic investment from Tinicum, L.P. and affiliated funds managed by Tinicum Incorporated. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. GracoRoberts’ management team is retaining a significant interest in the company and will continue to lead the business.
Headquartered in Arlington, Texas, GracoRoberts distributes adhesives, sealants, coatings, composites, and other specialty chemicals to the global aerospace and defense market through a combination of eCommerce capabilities and technical sales expertise. The company also operates a defense logistics and compliance program that provides supply chain management for military operations, along with services such as custom kitting, labeling, repackaging, cold storage, and vendor managed inventory. GracoRoberts is made up of parent GracoRoberts along with Silmid, SkyGeek, Pacific Coast Composites, and Sky Mart, and is authorized to distribute chemical products from more than 50 brands.
The investment marks a transition from CM Equity Partners, which had partnered with GracoRoberts’ management team for the past 11 years on a strategy centered on acquisitions, operational improvements, and organic growth. Harris Williams served as exclusive financial advisor to the transaction, while Holland & Knight LLP served as legal counsel to GracoRoberts and CM Equity Partners, and Goodwin Procter LLP served as legal counsel to Tinicum.
KEY QUOTES:
“Tinicum shares our commitment to our people, our partners, and the long-term success of this business. This partnership provides additional resources to invest in our team, strengthen our capabilities, and continue delivering exceptional value to the customer and supplier partners we serve.”
Jason Caldwell, Chief Executive Officer, GracoRoberts
“We greatly admire the business that the GracoRoberts team has built. It is distinguished by the team’s technical depth, unwavering commitment to customer service, and longstanding partnerships with the world’s leading material manufacturers. We intend to invest behind that foundation with a long-term mindset, in the people, the capabilities, and the platform. It is exactly the kind of durable, market-leading business we seek to partner with.”
Erik Blumenkranz and Roddy Cruz, Partners, Tinicum
“It has been a privilege to partner with the GracoRoberts management team over the past 11 years. Working together, we executed a value creation strategy centered on strategic acquisitions, operational excellence, and sustained organic growth, transforming GracoRoberts into the market-leading company it is today.”
Jeffrey Mark, Managing Partner, CM Equity Partners
