Press Release: Trent Capital Partners has purchased full control of the business

 

PINEY FLATS, TENNESSEE, Feb. 12, 2024 – Microporous LLC, is pleased to announce that Trent Capital Partners has purchased full control of the business. Trent Capital Partners (www.trentequity.com), a leading private equity firm backed by major family offices, has been a minority owner of Microporous for the past ten years, and Ray Desrocher, founder and Managing Director of Trent, has served on the company’s board of directors since that time.

Microporous (www.microporous.net) has an 80-year history of manufacturing lead-acid battery separators with facilities in both Austria and Tennessee. The company was recently selected for a $100 million dollar grant from the Department of Energy to establish a U.S.-based Li-ion battery separator manufacturing facility serving the rapidly growing North American electric vehicle (EV) market. 

Trent has a 14-year history of partnering with large family offices in the acquisition of superior industrial businesses. Trent and its investors bring a strong commitment to Microporous’ core lead acid battery separator business and the financial means and commitment to support Microporous’ expansion into lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery separators and the EV market.   

John Reeves, CEO of Microporous, stated, “I have known Ray Desrocher of Trent Capital and his team for many years. They have pulled together a world class group of investors who are dedicated to Microporous and our growth plan. I am excited for the opportunity to execute our growth strategies across both lead-acid and Li-ion markets and to power a U.S. supply chain for electric vehicles.”

Trent is a mid-market private equity firm established in 2010 that targets its investments in industrial companies that have a proven track record of superior execution and can deliver significant return on capital employed.  

Ray Desrocher, Managing Director of Trent, remarked, “We are excited to continue our investment in Microporous. The company has a well-run core business with a long history of exceeding customer expectations while also being incredibly well positioned for success in the Green Energy space. Like the Department of Energy, which has supported Microporous with a $100MM grant, our investors believe the company can play a key role in the burgeoning market for Li-ion batteries.”

About Microporous, LLC: Microporous™ is a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of high-performance rubber, polyethylene (PE) and hybrid battery separators for flooded lead-acid batteries. Separators are a highly engineered, mission-critical component of rechargeable batteries. The company supplies an extensive customer base located across 23 countries and five continents. Microporous currently operates two manufacturing facilities in Piney Flats, TN and Feistritz, Austria. The company is headquartered in Piney Flats, TN.

About Trent Capital Partners: Trent Capital Partners was established in 2010 to invest in businesses where superior execution can generate superior returns.  The firm believes that return on capital employed in a business is, above all else, the primary driver of value, and thereby, equity returns. Trent Capital Partners seeks to deploy capital in unique opportunities suited to growth, typically through a combination of market-driven and operationally-driven dynamics.

 

Contact Information:

Microporous, LLC
Piney Flats, TN 376868, US
sales@microporous.net

Microporous implements significant price increases in all product categories and markets to offset substantially higher costs incurred for raw materials, energy and transportation.

The coronavirus pandemic has significantly disrupted the supply and demand of raw materials for the production of durable goods. While multiple suppliers had to scale down production and inventories due to the pandemic, demand for the end products increased. Since mid-2021, Microporous has been negatively impacted by an unprecedented, continuous and dramatic inflation in raw materials, transportation, and energy is putting at risk the sustainability of its polyethylene separator manufacturing. Decreases in these historically high costs for raw materials, energy, and distribution are unlikely in the near future.

Microporous is committed to protect and keep high quality and service while preserving long-standing relationships, ensuring reliable product supply, and continuing to make vital investments in innovation and continuous improvement.

Regional sales account managers remain available to provide additional details about the implementation of these price increases.

About Microporous LLC
Microporous is a leading international supplier of lead acid battery separators. Over our 80+ year history, Microporous has firmly established a reputation for quality and service. With our excellent logistics and technical service teams, we offer the broadest line of high-performance battery separators to a global customer base.

Piney Flats, TN. May 3, 2021 – Microporous is excited to announce Sachin Kumar as Technical Manager. In his new position, Sachin directly reports to David Mihara, VP of Technology. Sachin has a Bachelor’s degree in Pulp and Paper Technology from IIT-Roorkee, Master’s degree in Paper Science and Engineering and Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Miami University of Ohio.

He has previously worked as R&D Executive Engineer with BILT (largest paper manufacturer in India) and has also worked as Visiting Assistant Professor in the Chemistry and Biochemistry department at Miami University of Ohio where he instructed senior/graduate level biophysical chemistry, physical chemistry and general chemistry courses. Over the last 20 years, he has carried out fundamental research in the area of fuel-cells utilizing heterogeneous catalysis over metal nanoparticle and applied research in the area of carbon/graphite manufacturing for super capacitor and li-ion battery applications.

In his spare time, he enjoys nature photography and cooking for his wife Shikha. They both enjoy hiking, traveling, meeting new people and experiencing different cuisines. Sachin and his wife are relocating to Johnson City area and are very excited for the future.