Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corporation II
MANAGEMENT & BOARD
Executive Officers
Daniel J. Hennessy, 57
Chairman of the Board of Directors & Chief Executive Officer
From September 2013 to February 2015, Mr. Hennessy served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp., or Hennessy 1, which merged with School Bus Holdings Inc. in February 2015 and is now known as Blue Bird Corporation (NASDAQ: BLBD), and since February 2015, has served as its Vice Chairman. Mr. Hennessy is also a Partner at Code Hennessy & Simmons LLC (n/k/a CHS Capital or “CHS”) a middle market private equity investment firm he co-founded in 1988. Over a 25 year period, CHS invested $2.8 billion in 395 operating companies with aggregate revenues of approximately $15 billion. Mr. Hennessy has served as Chairman of the Board and Director of CHS portfolio companies that manufacture and/or distribute a broad array of products or provide services for the industrial, infrastructure, energy and packaging sectors including Thermon Group Holdings (NYSE: THR), a designer and manufacturer of heat tracing systems focused on the external application of heat to pipes, tanks and instrumentation from April 2010 to May 2011, Dura-Line Holdings, a producer of high-density polyethylene conduit and pipes from January 2012 to September 2014, Penhall International, a provider of concrete cutting, breaking, excavation and highway grinding services, from July 2006 to November 2010, GSE Environmental, a supplier of geosynthetic liners and products, from May 2004 to December 2011, WNA, a designer and manufacturer of upscale plastic disposable tableware products, from 2002 to 2007 and Kranson Industries (n/k/a/ TricorBraun), a distributor of plastic and glass containers, from 1999 to 2004. In 2009, EDH Properties, LLC, a family real estate investment entity for which Mr. Hennessy was the managing member, filed a petition for voluntary reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. A plan of reorganization was confirmed by the court in 2010 and the lender received payment in full. Prior to forming CHS, Mr. Hennessy was employed by Citicorp from 1984 to 1988 as head of the Midwest Region for Citicorp Mezzanine Investments and Vice President and Team Leader with Citicorp Leveraged Capital Group. He began his career in 1981 in the oil and gas lending group at Continental Illinois National Bank (now Bank of America) where he was a Banking Officer. Mr. Hennessy holds a B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from Boston College and an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.
Kevin Charlton, 48
President, Chief Operating Officer and Director Nominee
From October 2013 to February 2015, Mr. Charlton served as President, Chief Operating Officer and a member of the board of directors of Hennessy 1, which merged with School Bus Holdings Inc. in February 2015 and is now known as Blue Bird Corporation (NASDAQ: BLBD), and since from January 2014 to February 2015 as a director. Prior to that, from August 2009 to June 2013, Mr. Charlton was a Managing Director in the Principal Transactions Group of Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc., and led a team that oversaw its existing portfolio of North American investments. Prior to joining Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc. in August 2009, Mr. Charlton worked as Managing Director at Investcorp International, a mid-market private equity firm, from August 2002 to June 2009. Prior to joining Investcorp International in August 2002, he worked for JPMorgan Chase and McKinsey & Company and as a contractor in the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters. Mr. Charlton has served on the boards of over 15 private companies and their subsidiaries in a variety of roles, with significant industrial experience in businesses such as FleetPride, a distributor of aftermarket heavy-duty truck parts, Neptune Technologies, a manufacturer of water meters and metering systems, Synthetic Industries, a manufacturer of industrial fabrics, and Brek Manufacturing, an aerospace components manufacturer. Since January 2010 he has been a member of the Board of Directors of Spirit Realty Corporation (NYSE: SRC), a triple-net real estate investment trust that went public in September 2012, where he is a member of the Compensation and Governance Committees. Since March 2014, Mr. Charlton has served on the board of The Addison Group, a privately-owned staffing business. Since August 2014, Mr. Charlton has served on the board of Dancing Deer Baking Company, a manufacturer of branded baked goods and a portfolio company of River Hollow Partners. Since March 2015, he has served as a Board Observer at National Spine and Pain Centers, a privately-owned health care business. Since March 2015, he has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Macro Energy, an advisory firm focused on high-efficiency lighting retrofits for commercial tenants and a portfolio company of River Hollow Partners. He received a Masters in Business Administration with honors from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in June 1995, a Masters of Science in Aerospace Engineering with Distinction from the University of Michigan in June 1990, and a Bachelors of Science in Engineering Cum Laude from Princeton University in June 1988.
Nicholas A. Petruska, 28
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
He has served as Vice President of Hennessy Capital LLC, the managing member of the Sponsor, since November 2013, in which position he advised Hennessy 1, which merged with School Bus Holdings Inc. in February 2015 and is now known as Blue Bird Corporation (NASDAQ: BLBD), in connection with its initial public offering in January 2014. In addition, he worked closely with Hennessy 1’s CEO and COO on transaction origination and initial assessments of potential target companies and led the due diligence assessment and transaction execution for Hennessy 1’s business combination, which was consummated in February 2015. From July 2012 to July 2014, Mr. Petruska served as an associate at CHS Capital, a Chicago-based middle market private equity investment firm, where he evaluated leveraged buyouts and structured equity investments across multiple sectors and monitored certain portfolio companies of CHS. From January 2010 to July 2012, Mr. Petruska served as an investment banking analyst for Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) in the mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance groups with a focus on diversified industrials and consumer retail. He holds a B.S. degree, summa cum laude, from Miami University with majors in Finance and Decision Sciences.
Board of Directors
Bradley Bell, 62
Director Nominee and Chairman of the Audit Committee
From January 2014 to February 2015, Mr. Bell served as a director and chairman of the Audit Committee of Hennessy 1, which merged with School Bus Holdings Inc. in February 2015 and is now known as Blue Bird Corporation (NASDAQ: BLBD). Since October 2014, Mr. Bell has served as a director of Momentive Performance Materials Inc., a global manufacturer of silicones, quartz, and ceramics, where he has been Non-Executive Chair since December 2014. From 2001 through 2015, he served as a director of IDEX Corporation (NYSE:IEX), a global industrial company with key growth platforms in Fluid Metering Technology and Health & Science Technology segments, where he chaired the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and served on the Compensation Committee. Mr. Bell serves as a director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of The Chemours Company LLC (NYSE: CC), a chemical solutions company. He serves as a director of Compass Minerals Corporation (NYSE:CMP), an international mining company with operations in salt and specialty fertilizers, where he has been a director since 2003, chair of the Compensation Committee since May 2010, a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee from May 2009 until May 2015 and a member of the Audit Committee since May 2012. He served as a director of Coskata Company, a pre-revenue biomass startup with proprietary technology for the production of fuels and chemicals utilizing anaerobic microorganisms where he has been chairman of the audit committee from 2009 to 2015. From November 2003 to December 2010, Mr. Bell served as Executive Vice President of Nalco Corporation, an industrial water treatment and energy services company. Mr. Bell has over 30 years combined experience as an executive in the technology and manufacturing industries, including positions at Rohm and Haas Company, Whirlpool Corporation and Bundy Corporation. Through his experience, Mr. Bell has developed financial expertise and experience in mergers and acquisitions, private equity and capital markets transactions. He has held directorships at publicly traded companies for over 20 years, during which he chaired governance, audit and compensation committees. Through his executive experience and board memberships, Mr. Bell has acquired training and experience in corporate governance and executive compensation. Mr. Bell received a bachelor of science degree in finance with high honors from the University of Illinois and a master of business administration degree with distinction from Harvard University.
Richard Burns, 61
Director Nominee
From January 2014 to February 2015, Mr. Burns served as a director of Hennessy 1, which merged with School Bus Holdings Inc. in February 2015 and is now known as Blue Bird Corporation (NASDAQ: BLBD). He also serves as a Senior Advisor to McKinsey & Company, consulting with telecom service providers, suppliers, and private equity investors, and has done so since April 2008. Mr. Burns also serves on the boards of GeorgiasOwn Credit Union, a consumer retail financial services firm, since 2002 and Unison Site Management, a cell site management firm, since March 2010. Mr. Burns has over 35 years of combined executive experience in telecommunications, including landline, broadband and wireless networks. He served as an officer of BellSouth from 2002 to 2006, holding a number of positions including Chief Integration Officer for Broadband Transformation, President of Bellsouth Broadband and Internet Services, and Chief Supply Chain Officer. He also served as an officer of AT&T from December 2006 to March 2008, as President of AT&T’s Wireless Network. Through his experience, Mr. Burns has developed expertise in operations, mergers, financial management, and private equity investment. Through his executive experience and board service Mr. Burns has acquired both experience and training in corporate governance, executive compensation, and finance. Mr. Burns received both his Bachelor and Master’s Degrees in Engineering from the University of Louisville, and an MBA from Vanderbilt University with Honors.
Peter Shea, 63
Director Nominee and Chairman of the Compensation Committee
From January 2014 to February 2015, Mr. Shea served as a director and chairman of the Compensation Committee of Hennessy 1, which merged with School Bus Holdings Inc. in February 2015 and is now known as Blue Bird Corporation (NASDAQ: BLBD). Since January 2010, Mr. Shea has been a private equity advisor. He has been a director of Viskase Companies, a supplier of cellulose and fibrous casings, from October 2006 to the present, where he is currently a member of the Audit Committee and previously served as chairman of the Compensation Committee. He has also served as a director of Sitel Worldwide Corporation, a customer care solutions provider, since October 2011 and as a director of Give and Go Prepared Foods, a bakery manufacturer, since January 2012. He has been a director of CVR Partners LP (NYSE: UAN), a nitrogen fertilizer producer, since May 2014 where he is currently the Chairman of the Environmental, Health and Safety Committee and a member of the Audit Committee. Mr. Shea has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of FeraDyne Outdoors LLC, a manufacturer of hunting and fishing accessories, since May 2014. He also serves as Chairman of Teasedale Foods, a processor of Hispanic foods. He was a Director of CTI Foods, a processor of protein and soup products for quick serve restaurant chains from May 2010 to July 2013. Mr. Shea was President of Icahn Enterprises (NYSE: IEP) from October 2006 to June 2009 and during the same period led Portfolio Company Operations for Icahn Associates, Carl Icahn’s private portfolio. Mr. Shea served as a director of each of the following companies from October 2006 to May 2009: XO Holdings, a telecommunications services provider, American Railcar, a manufacturer of covered hopper and tank railcars, WestPoint International, a home textiles manufacturer and PSC Metals, a national operator of scrap yards. From 2002 to 2006 Mr. Shea was an independent consultant to various companies, an advisor to private equity firms and a director of Sabert Company, a packaging company. Mr. Shea has also served as a director, Chairman, Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President or Managing Director of a variety of companies including H.J. Heinz Company in Europe, a manufacturer and marketer of a broad line of food products across the globe, John Morrell & Company, Specialty Meats Company, each an international meat processing firm, Grupo Polymer United in Latin America, a plastics manufacturer, Roncadin GmbH, a food processor operating across Europe, Premium Standard Farms, New Energy Company of Indiana and United Brands Company where he was Head of Global Corporate Development. He has an MBA from the University of Southern California and a BBA from Iona College.
Thomas J. Sullivan, 52
Director Nominee
Mr. Sullivan has served as a director of Media General (NYSE: MEG), a multimedia company, since November 2013. Prior to the merger of Media General and New Young Broadcasting Holding Co. (“Young”), Mr. Sullivan was a member of the Board of Directors, as well as of the Audit, Compensation and Nominating Committees, of Young from January 2009 until November 2013. Mr. Sullivan held the position of Executive Chairman of Young from June 2012 until November 2013 and served as Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer in 2012. Mr. Sullivan serves as a director of American Apparel, Inc. (NYSE MKT: AAP), a manufacturer, distributor, and retailer of apparel products and designs, and serves as AAP’s Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and as a member of the Audit Committee. He has also served as a member of the advisory board of Millennium Custodial Trust since 2010 and a Trustee of Accredited Mortgage Loan REIT since 2009. Since 2009, Mr. Sullivan serves as the Managing Partner of Smallwood Partners, LLC, a financial advisory services firm. Mr. Sullivan’s previous experience also includes serving as a Managing Director with Investcorp International, Inc., an international middle market private equity firm. Mr. Sullivan has served on numerous boards for 20 years and has broad leadership, operational and financial restructuring experience as well as experience in the fields of private equity and capital markets. Mr. Sullivan holds a B.B.S. from Villanova University.
