July 6, 2016, Chicago – Akoya is excited to announce it has teamed with K’Lynne Johnson and Dave Burger – two highly experienced executives in the specialty chemicals industry to pursue new platform acquisitions.

K’Lynne has more than 25 years of chemical industry experience working within the oil and petrochemicals industry for Amoco, BP and Innovene, and most recently as the founding CEO and President of Elevance. She has worked in a variety of roles covering general business management, supply chain optimization, HR management, strategy, and organizational design and effectiveness. Prior to her role as CEO and president of Elevance, K’Lynne was senior vice president of the Global Derivatives operating company within BP Innovene, one of the world’s largest global petrochemical and refining companies. K’Lynne’s SVP role included profit and loss accountability for multiple global commodity and specialty chemicals businesses with revenues of $3 billion and 1,100 employees across North America, Europe and Asia. She currently serves on several boards, including FMC Corporation; Morton Arboretum; and was formerly a Director for the TPC Group, Inc. K’Lynne was inducted into the Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame in 2014.

Dave has more than 30 years of chemical industry experience and was most recently CEO of Edge Adhesives, where under his leadership the company went from a break-even business to a profitable company that tripled its sales in three years due to a combination of strong organic growth and the acquisition of three strategic businesses. Dave continues to serve on the board of Edge Adhesives, which is a portfolio company of Akoya. Before coming to Edge in 2011, Dave was President of NorthStar Chemicals, a subsidiary of 3M which manufactures pressurized canister systems for the delivery of liquid adhesive, coating and other chemical products. Prior to NorthStar, Dave worked for the 3M parent company for 25 years in numerous sales, marketing, technical, international and general management roles in the Industrial Adhesives & Tapes and Memory Technologies Divisions. Dave has served on the board of the Adhesives and Sealants Council for 9 years and was ASC Board Chair in 2007 and 2008.

Seeking Platform Investments in Specialty Chemicals

Akoya is interested in a pursuing a wide range of businesses with specialty chemicals but K’Lynne and Dave will have particular interest in the following segments:

• Flavors, Fragrances, Food Additives
• Agrochemical Specialties
• Adhesives, Sealants, Tape Manufacturers and Formulators
• Specialty Distributors

Ideal Target Company Characteristics:

• $20 million to $200 million of sales
• $3 million+ of EBITDA
• Established competency in formulations
• Family held, owner/operator run, corporate carve-outs

Management wants to remain with the business & open to re-investment

About Akoya

Akoya Capital is a sector focused investment firm that creates and nurtures partnerships between management and capital. With industry leading sector leaders, proprietary platform organizations, experienced management teams and co­investors, we collaborate on compelling value creation opportunities. Together, we develop and execute industry sector acquisition strategies that deliver significant, measurable value for management, partners and shareholders.

We will consider smaller companies on a selective basis or as an add-on acquisition. In addition to Specialty Chemicals, Akoya seeks investment opportunities in the following sectors:

• Industrial Manufacturing & Distribution
• Consumer Foods/Products
• Professional Information Services

Contact Us

If you know of a company that fits this profile, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss it with you.
Please contact Jason Apple at (312) 546­-8301 (japple@akoyacapital.com)