Arsenal Capital Partners Names Shawn Abrams Operating Partner

NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Arsenal Capital Partners, a leading New York-based private equity firm that invests in middle-market specialty industrial and healthcare companies, announced today that it has named Shawn Abrams as an Operating Partner in the firm's Specialty Industrials Group.  Mr. Abrams brings 30 years of experience in the global chemicals and materials industries, most recently serving as President of Grace Catalysts Technologies.

Mr. Abrams joins Arsenal's other highly regarded operating partners and advisors who support the firm in its two key areas of investment.

"We have developed a powerful team of Operating Partners and a network of executive advisors who represent top talent within their respective fields and they bring immediate value to our investments as we grow those businesses in their targeted industries," said John Televantos, a Partner who co-heads Arsenal's Specialty Industrials Group.  "Shawn is an extremely talented leader who has extensive experience in running and growing specialty industrials companies and he greatly complements our existing team of executives."

Mr. Abrams served for the past six years with W. R. Grace & Co., most recently as President of Grace Catalysts Technologies, whose products are used in refining, petrochemical and other chemical manufacturing applications.  Prior to joining Grace, Mr. Abrams had over 17 years of experience in global industrial markets at Evonik Industries AG (formerly Degussa), where he held a variety of increasing senior leadership positions in sales and general management in the U.S., Germany, and Singapore.  He began his career at FMC Corporation in their Industrial Chemicals group after receiving his B.S.M.E. from Lehigh University in 1984. He received his M.B.A. from Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Tim Zappala, a Partner at Arsenal Capital Partners and co-head of the firm's Specialty Industrials Group, said, "Shawn brings strong leadership, management, and technical experience and a proven track record of building and growing global businesses. He has a distinguished career in the global chemicals and materials industries and we look forward to leveraging his expertise in a range of opportunities as we build strong and profitable businesses."

Arsenal's current investments in the specialty industrials sector include Dash Multi-Corp., a leading manufacturer of formulated polyurethane, vinyl plastisol, specialty coatings as well as recycled rubber products; IGM Resins, a leading provider of intermediates to the global ultraviolet ("UV") radiation cure coatings, inks and adhesives industry; Chromaflo Technologies, the largest independent global pigment dispersion provider to the architectural and industrial coatings and thermoset composites industries; Fluoro-Seal Holdings, a leading provider of unique plastic barrier, adhesion and surface enhancement products and services as well as manufacturer of value-added materials; Royal Adhesives & Sealants, the largest global pure-play producer of proprietary, high-performance adhesives, sealants and coatings, and; International Fiber Corporation, the leading supplier of cellulose‐based insoluble fiber products for food and industrial applications globally.  Previous investments in the sector include Novolyte Technologies, Genovique Specialties, Velsicol Chemical, Sermatech International, and Vertellus Specialties.

About Arsenal Capital Partners
Arsenal Capital Partners is a leading New York-based private equity firm that invests in middle-market specialty industrial and healthcare companies. Arsenal makes investments in sectors where the firm has significant prior knowledge and experience.  Arsenal targets businesses that have the potential for further value creation by working closely with management to accelerate growth and leverage the firm's operational improvement capabilities.  Arsenal currently has $1.7 billion of committed equity capital.  For additional information on Arsenal Capital Partners, please visit www.arsenalcapital.com.

Contact: Chris Tofalli
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914-834-4334

SOURCE Arsenal Capital Partners