Graco Supply Company Agrees to Acquire E.V. Roberts to Form the Largest Niche Specialty Chemicals Distributor to Serve the North American Aerospace Market
Transaction Unites 140 Years of Combined Aerospace Materials Expertise
FORT WORTH, Texas, April 9, 2019 – Graco Supply Company (“Graco”) today announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire E.V. Roberts to forge the largest aerospace-focused specialty chemicals distributor in North America. The Graco/E.V. Roberts combination will create a full-service, solutions-oriented distribution firm offering access to a larger portfolio of products in more locations and custom value-added services to support the evolving needs of its customer and supplier partners.
E.V. Roberts, with an 80-year track record of successfully distributing, formulating, and packaging specialty chemicals to the aerospace and other advanced manufacturing markets, provides significant growth channels for Graco. E.V. Roberts maintains a world-class quality system and is an authorized distributor for 3M, Henkel, Momentive, Resin Formulators and Scott Bader.
“We are thrilled to have Ron Cloud and his outstanding team join us in taking aerospace chemical distribution to a new level,” said Jason Caldwell, President and CEO of Graco. “Bringing more products and services to our customers through our combined channel is important. Unleashing the talent and expertise of these two innovative teams with a strong aerospace chemical distribution heritage is truly exciting.”
Ron Cloud, President and CEO of E.V. Roberts, also commented on the integration, and his reasoning behind choosing to partner with Graco Supply. “I had the opportunity to lead E.V. Roberts through nearly 25 years of double-digit growth and evolution. In this period, I have never witnessed a more complementary union of products, services, and most importantly, people necessary to drive growth and effect positive change for our industry. Graco Supply Company and E.V. Roberts are the perfect blend of dedicated focus, nimbleness, and technical expertise, and it’s only up from here.”
With nearly 30 years of experience providing growth capital to the aerospace, defense and federal services sectors, CM Equity Partners, as sponsor to Graco, will fund the acquisition, continuing Graco’s strong track record of growth and enabling the combined companies to better serve its customers and suppliers.
With approximately 150 employees, the combined company will operate from Fort Worth with distribution and service centers in all major aerospace hubs, including the West (Carson and Burbank, Calif.), Pacific Northwest (Kent, Wash.), Southeast/East (North Carolina, Atlanta) and Central (Wichita, Kan.) regions.
About Graco Supply Company
Founded in 1959 and headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, Graco is a leading value-added distributor of chemicals, specialty materials, consumables and related services to the aerospace and defense industries. Graco’s extensive product line card consists of aerospace coatings and other paints, sealants, adhesives, surface treatments, composite materials and other shop consumables used in the manufacture and maintenance, repair, and overhaul of commercial, business and military aircraft. Graco also provides value-added services, including custom repackaging, temperature-sensitive material handling, tinting and supply chain management capabilities.
About E.V. Roberts
E.V. Roberts, based in Carson, CA, is a full-service supplier of advanced engineered materials for aerospace, composites, electronics, and other advanced manufacturing industries. We are fully AS- and ISO-certified and authorized to distribute 3M, Coastal Enterprises, Henkel, Momentive, and Scott Bader adhesives and films, sealants, surface treatment technologies, resins, tooling board, curing agents and more, and can easily source and supply other specialty materials upon request. Resin Formulators – the custom formulation division of the company, manufactures custom solutions to meet any need, while our dispensing and packaging business delivers technologies for precision and efficiency with every application. For 80+ years, E.V. Roberts has delivered superior engineered materials with impeccable support to thousands of customers from more than 65 countries and all seven continents around the globe.
About CM Equity Partners
CM Equity Partners (“CMEP”), based in New York, NY, provides capital to the Federal services and aerospace and defense industries. For nearly 30 years, CMEP has partnered with management teams to build value in its investment companies by leveraging its long-standing industry knowledge, relationships, operating experience, and its corporate finance, M&A, and private equity expertise. CMEP provides an active and collaborative management approach to its investments, developing long-term strategic plans and supporting re-investment of profits to grow and broaden a company’s revenue base and capabilities. CMEP’s investments are structured with flexibility across a broad spectrum of the capital structure, including equity, structured equity and mezzanine debt. CMEP is associated with Carl Marks & Co., a private family investment office with merchant banking activities dating to 1925. Additional information about Carl Marks & Co. is available at www.carlmarks.com.
Advisors
B. Riley FBR, Inc. is serving as financial advisor to E.V. Roberts, and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is acting as legal counsel for E.V. Roberts. Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP is acting as counsel for Graco.
