Quinpario in the News

September 30, 2013

Activist Shareholders Push Chemical Firms Into Major Changes

Over the past year, aggressive investors have looked for ways to enhance the stock value of companies. “The chemical industry is ripe for shareholder activism,” says Jeffry N. Quinn, who heads Quinpario Partners, an activist investor firm.

September 24, 2013

Quinpario Acquisition Corp. Common Stock and Warrants to Commence Trading Separately on September 30, 2013

Quinpario Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: QPACU), a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) formed by Mr. Jeffry N. Quinn, former chairman, president and chief executive officer of Solutia Inc., and Quinpario Partners LLC, for the purpose of acquiring or merging with an operating business, primarily focusing on the specialty chemicals and performance materials sectors, today announced that the holders of the Company’s units may elect to separately trade the common stock and warrants underlying the units commencing September 30, 2013.

August 14, 2013

Quinpario Acquisition Corp. Closes $172,500,000 Initial Public Offering

Quinpario Acquisition Corp. (QPACU), a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) formed by Mr. Jeffry N. Quinn and Quinpario Partners LLC, today announced that it has completed its initial public offering of 17,250,000 units at $10.00 per unit, for gross proceeds to the company of $172,500,000, which includes the underwriters’ exercise of their over-allotment option in full. The units are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “QPACU”.

August 9, 2013

Quinpario Acquisition Corp. Announces Pricing of $150,000,000 Initial Public Offering

Quinpario Acquisition Corp. (the "Company") (QPACU), a newly-organized blank check company formed for the purpose of acquiring or merging with an operating business in the specialty chemicals and performance materials sectors, today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 15,000,000 units at a price of $10.00 per unit for gross proceeds of $150,000,000 on August 8, 2013.

June 19, 2013

Quinpario plans $150 million ‘blank check’ offering

An investment firm run by former Solutia Chief Executive Jeffry Quinn said Wednesday it plans to raise $150 million through a “blank check” initial public offering.

June 19, 2013

Quinpario plans to raise $150 million for more chemicals investments

Jeffry Quinn’s Quinpario Partners is ready to buy into additional companies and is looking to raise $150 million to do it.

June 19, 2013

Quinpario Acquisition Unveils Plans for $150 Million IPO

Quinpario Acquisition Corp. unveiled plans for an initial public offering of roughly $150 million as the blank-check firm raises funds for potential purchases of other businesses.

May 17, 2013

What is Quinn's Quinpario Partners up to?

Jeffry Quinn steered chemicals manufacturer Solutia Inc. out of bankruptcy, sold it to Eastman Chemical Co. for $3.4 billion last year, and pocketed $30 million. Then he and five other executives from Solutia formed Quinpario Partners to invest in chemicals companies and recently have been trying to take control of Zoltek Cos. Inc. in St. Louis and Ferro Corp. in Cleveland. We visited with Quinn, Quinpario’s chairman and chief executive, about his vision and plan.

May 8, 2013

Ferro Concedes Two Director Seats to Dissident Nominees

Ferro Corp. (FOE), a U.S. chemical company that rejected an unsolicited takeover offer, agreed to concede two board seats to dissident director nominees who have criticized the company’s performance.

May 8, 2013

Ferro, Shareholder Group Agree on Slate of Board Nominees

Ferro Corp. (FOE) has agreed with a group of shareholders on which nominees to back at the specialty chemical company's annual shareholders meeting next Wednesday.

May 8, 2013

Ferro and the FrontFour-Quinpario Group Reach Agreement

Ferro Corporation (NYSE: FOE) (the “Company”) and the FrontFour Capital Group and Quinpario Partners (the “FrontFour-Quinpario Group”) today announced that they have reached an agreement in connection with the Company’s 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

May 2, 2013

The Shareholder Committee for the Future of Ferro Issues Open Letter to Shareholders of Ferro Corporation: Urges Shareholders to Ignore Ferro's Campaign of Misinformation and Personal Attacks, Reiterates Plan to Maximize Shareholder Value at Ferro

The Shareholder Committee for the Future of Ferro, headed by FrontFour Capital Group LLC and Quinpario Partners LLC, today issued an open letter to the shareholders of Ferro Corporation (NYSE: FOE).

May 1, 2013

Quinn wins endorsement to Ferro board

A proxy advisory service has recommended Jeffry Quinn for election to the board of Ferro Corp., a Cleveland chemicals manufacturer that he has pledge to turn around.

May 1, 2013

ISS endorses Quinn for Ferro board

Former Solutia Chief Executive Jeffry Quinn has won an important endorsement in his battle for a board seat at Ferro, a materials company based in Mayfield Heights, Ohio.

May 1, 2013

Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) Recommends Ferro Corporation Shareholders Vote to Elect Nominees of the Shareholder Committee for the Future of Ferro at Upcoming Annual Meeting: ISS Recommends Vote on Committee's GREEN Proxy Card

The Shareholder Committee for the Future of Ferro, a significant shareholder of Ferro Corporation (FOE), today announced that Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), a leading independent proxy voting advisory firm, has recommended that Ferro shareholders vote on the Committee's GREEN proxy card to elect two of the Committee's highly-qualified nominees, Jeffry N. Quinn and David A. Lorber.

May 1, 2013

Ferro Investors Advised by ISS to Vote for Two Dissidents

Shareholders of Ferro Corp. (FOE), a U.S. chemical company fending off an unsolicited takeover offer, should vote for two of three dissident director nominees, according to proxy advisory firm Institutional Investor Services Inc.

April 26, 2013

The Shareholder Committee for the Future of Ferro issues presentation highlighting the need for Change at Ferro — Path to Value Creation

April 23, 2013

Gabelli-led group boosts its Ferro Corp. stake above 16%

A group of investment firms connected to Mario J. Gabelli has increased its stock holdings in specialty chemical maker Ferro Corp. of Mayfield Heights, according to information filed today with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

April 23, 2013

Ferro Seen Securing Decade-High Chemical Bid: Real M&A

Ferro Corp. (FOE) shareholders are betting an increased takeover offer from A. Schulman Inc. and a push from activists to overhaul the board will compel the chemical company’s management to agree to a deal. Ferro, a Mayfield Heights, Ohio-based maker of chemicals used in coatings and ceramics, said March 4 it had rejected an offer of $6.50 a share — that it later called a “low-ball” bid — from plastics maker Schulman, based about 34 miles (55 kilometers) away in Akron, Ohio. With Schulman reiterating yesterday it may raise the bid if it can look at Ferro’s books, the stock has traded above the offer every day as investors wager the takeover succeeds at a higher level. Credit Suisse Group AG estimates a winning bid to be $7.50 a share, while First Analysis Securities Corp. says it may be as much as $9.

April 18, 2013

The Shareholder Committee for the Future of Ferro Issues Open Letter to Shareholders of Ferro Corporation: Comments on the Ferro Board's Repeated Failures in Strategy, Value Creation and Execution; and, Urges Shareholders to Support the Committee's Efforts and Vote the GREEN Proxy Card

The Shareholder Committee for the Future of Ferro, headed by FrontFour Capital Group LLC and Quinpario Partners LLC, today issued an open letter to the shareholders of Ferro Corporation (NYSE: FOE).

April 9, 2013

Quinpario: More Chemical Companies Need 'Reinvigoration'

Quinpario Partners LLC, a private- equity fund seeking changes at Ferro Corp. (FOE) and Zoltek Companies Inc., expects to take active stakes in more chemical and materials companies needing “reinvigoration,” Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeffry Quinn said.

March 28, 2013

Quinn-led investors, Zoltek reach truce

An investment group led by Jeffry Quinn has agreed to table its attempt to oust Zoltek Cos.’ board of directors and to replace it with its own slate of candidates as it engages in talks with the company.

March 15, 2013

Quinpario Partners Demands Zoltek Immediately Call Special Meeting of Shareholders

Quinpario Partners LLC issued a statement today in response to a letter it has received from outside counsel to Zoltek Companies, Inc. ("Zoltek" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: ZOLT) indicating that Zoltek does not intend to comply with Quinpario's March 4th written request that the Company call a special meeting of shareholders for purposes of removing the entire current Board and electing five highly qualified Quinpario nominees to fill the vacancies (the "Special Meeting").

March 7, 2013

Zoltek Rebuffs Offers, But Quinn Isn't Going Away

On March fifth, St. Louis, MO based carbon fiber manufacturer Zolek’s (NASD:ZOLT) shares jumped 14% to $10.52, having traded as high as $11.70 intraday when Quinpario Partners LLC and allied investors disclosed a 10.13% stake in the company.

March 7, 2013

The Shareholder Committee for the Future of Ferro Comments on Ferro's Rejection of A. Schulman's Offer to Acquire Ferro for $6.50 Per Share

The Shareholder Committee for the Future of Ferro, headed by FrontFour Capital Group LLC and Quinpario Partners LLC, today issues an open letter to the shareholders of Ferro Corporation (NYSE: FOE) commenting on Ferro's rejection of A. Schulman's offer to acquire Ferro for $6.50 per share and expressing its disappointment with Ferro's financial results for the fourth quarter and full-year ended December 31, 2012.

March 5, 2013

Ex-Solutia CEO seeks to oust Zoltek board

After a failed bid to buy Zoltek Cos., an investment group led by Jeffry Quinn now is seeking control by ousting the company’s board of directors, arguing a new board is needed to re-energize the carbon fiber maker’s financial performance.

March 4, 2013

Quinpario Partners Discloses Group Ownership of 10.13% in Zoltek

Quinpario Partners LLC announced today the formation of a group consisting of highly competent and reputable investors and director candidates with respect to Quinpario's investment in Zoltek Companies, Inc. ("Zoltek" or the "Company") (Nasdaq:ZOLT).

February 20, 2013

Preliminary Proxy Statement of The Shareholder Committee for the Future of Ferro

February 7, 2013

The Shareholder Committee for the Future of Ferro Issues Open Letter to Shareholders of Ferro Corporation: Comments on Sale of Ferro's Solar Pastes Assets, Reiterates Belief that Change is Needed at Ferro

The Shareholder Committee for the Future of Ferro, headed by FrontFour Capital Group LLC and Quinpario Partners LLC, today issued an open letter to the shareholders of Ferro Corporation (NYSE: FOE) commenting on the sale of Ferro's solar pastes assets and reiterating the Committee's belief that change is needed at Ferro.

January 24, 2013

The Shareholder Committee for the Future of Ferro Nominates Three Highly Qualified Independent Directors for Election to the Board of Directors of Ferro Corporation

The Shareholder Committee for the Future of Ferro, headed by FrontFour Capital Group LLC and Quinpario Partners LLC, announced today that it has notified Ferro Corporation (NYSE: FOE) of its intention to nominate three highly qualified individuals for election to the Board of Directors of the Company at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.