Aerospace and defense materials distributor GracoRoberts announced July 23 that it has received a strategic investment from private equity firm Tinicum, effectively transferring ownership from longtime financial sponsor CM Equity Partners.

Financial terms were not disclosed. GracoRoberts’ management team will retain a significant ownership interest and continue leading the company, according to the announcement.

Arlington, TX-based GracoRoberts distributes specialty chemicals and advanced composite materials for aerospace and defense customers. Its portfolio includes adhesives, sealants, coatings, composites and other engineered materials supported by technical sales expertise and ecommerce capabilities.

The company also provides defense logistics and compliance services, including end-to-end supply chain management for military programs, custom kitting, labeling, repackaging, cold storage and vendor-managed inventory.

GracoRoberts CEO Jason Caldwell said Tinicum’s investment will provide additional resources to support the company’s employees, capabilities and customer and supplier relationships.

“We are incredibly proud of what our employees have built over the past decade alongside financial partner CM Equity Partners, and we are excited to build on that foundation in this next chapter of growth,” Caldwell said.

CM Equity Partners had backed GracoRoberts for 11 years. During that period, the distributor pursued a growth strategy combining acquisitions, operational improvements and organic expansion, CM Equity Managing Partner Jeffrey Mark said.

GracoRoberts’ portfolio now includes Silmid, SkyGeek, Pacific Coast Composites and Sky Mart. The company serves thousands of customers worldwide and is authorized to distribute more than 50 specialty chemical brands, including 3M, AkzoNobel, Eastman, Henkel, Hexcel, Huntsman and Momentive.

Tinicum, founded in 1974 as a family investment office, manages a portfolio of manufacturing, distribution and industrial technology companies.

Harris Williams served as exclusive financial advisor to GracoRoberts and CM Equity Partners. Holland & Knight provided their legal counsel, while Goodwin Procter advised Tinicum.