Back to news
In December 2013, Trive Capital (“Trive”), the Dallas-based private equity firm, partnered with the senior leadership teams of Coast Plating, Inc. (“Coast”) and Chrome Plus International, Inc. (“Chrome Plus”), two leading metal processing companies based in Los Angeles, CA and Wichita, KS, to create Valence Surface Technologies (“Valence”). The new platform is one of the largest independently owned aerospace and defense metal processing company with a focus on flight critical parts. Tim Mickael and Jorge Della Costa, the senior leaders of Coast and Chrome Plus, respectively, comprise the new Valence Executive Team. In addition, General Merrill A. McPeak, former Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, has joined the new Company’s board of directors in an advisory role.
Valence operates four facilities in two of the most critical aerospace manufacturing hubs and benefits from a very comprehensive set of OEM approvals that span a wide range of surface treatment capabilities. The Company’s core expertise is in servicing mission critical parts on key aircraft platforms where the quality demands are stringent and the cost of failure is high. The platform’s broad suite of services include non-destructive testing, shot peening, chemical processing (anodize, chemfilm, passivate, and plating), and chemical milling. Valence’s operations provide a unique set of capabilities, allowing for processing parts ranging from large monolithic wing spars, bulkheads, and fuselage skins, to highly intricate engine, electronics, and flight control components.
“We are excited to form this new partnership with the collective vision to build a multi-regional platform focused on adding value to and reducing capacity constraints in the global aerospace supply chain by providing the highest quality and reliable metal finishing services,” commented Tim Mickael. Jorge Della Costa added, “The combined business will continue to leverage best-in-class systems, production efficiencies and customer communication to meet the increasing demands from the escalation of aircraft build rates. Our goal is solve technical issues and production bottlenecks for both the machine shops and OEMs in each of the major aerospace markets.”
David Stinnett, Managing Director at Trive, stated “Both companies have built exceptional reputations for superior quality, turn times and customer service within their specific markets. We share management’s vision for creating a value-add surface technology partner to support the aerospace industry’s record backlog and will look to invest additional capital to expand capacity, service offerings and geographic footprint.”
“The Valence team has built an impressive organization, centered on a culture of excellence, problem solving and customer relationships,” remarked Conner Searcy, Managing Partner at Trive. “Trive’s knowledge in the sector, transaction creativity, and operational approach made us the preferred partner for management to support their growth strategy. We are excited to work with Tim, Jorge, and the entire team at Valence in building the leading independent aerospace and defense metal processing platform.”
Salem Partners, a Los Angeles-based investment bank focused on middle-market mergers and acquisitions, acted as the exclusive advisor to the shareholders of Coast Plating and Chrome Plus.
About Valence Surface Technologies
Valence Surface Technologies (www.valencesurfacetech.com) provides specialized metal processing and finishing services to a diversified set of fast growing commercial aerospace, defense, satellite and semiconductor markets. The business is one of the largest independent A&D metal processor in North America, operating four facilities in key regions with a broad range of service offerings and extensive list of critical prime approvals and customers.