Nov 4 2009
US LBM Holdings (headquartered in Green Bay, WI) will be platform to make further investments and acquisitions in lumber and building materials pro dealer segment
BlackEagle Partners, LLC, a private equity firm focused on turnarounds and special situations, and Building Industry Partners, LLC, a private equity firm focused on the U.S. building products industry, sponsored a newly formed entity, US LBM Holdings, LLC (“US LBM” or the “Company”), in partnership with L.T. Gibson, to acquire three regional operations from Stock Building Supply, LLC, the second largest lumber and building materials distributor in the U.S. The three markets include Wisconsin, Central New York and Connecticut, all longstanding, previously independent businesses with #1 or #2 market share supported by strong local management. US LBM will operate as a holding company, re-establishing the acquired operations as local autonomous businesses under their former or independent trade names, Wisconsin Building Supply, Bellevue Builders Supply and East Haven Builders Supply, respectively.
In aggregate, US LBM and its subsidiaries will be comprised of 13 locations and more than 500 associates servicing the professional building market with a primary focus on customers that require specialized services, such as custom homebuilders, professional remodelers as well as multifamily and commercial contractors. According to data published by ProSales Online, US LBM will the 15th largest lumber and building materials distributor in the U.S. based on 2008 net sales. The Company will serve as a platform to make further investments and acquisitions in the pro dealer space, often in partnership with current ownership and management, that enables businesses to operate as autonomous local divisions with the capital and other resources of a much larger national organization.
“We are excited to partner with L.T. and his team of industry veterans in the acquisition of three leading building product distributors,” said Jason Runco, Partner of BlackEagle. “By focusing on smaller markets, the Company has a more diverse customer base with less national competition serving both new residential builders as well as professional remodelers,” Mr. Runco added. Harry Watson, Partner of BlackEagle, commented, “US LBM will serve as a platform in the industry as we seek to invest in or acquire complementary businesses to expand the Company’s geography and product breadth.”
Commenting on the transaction, L.T. Gibson, US LBM’s President and CEO, offered, “We found a great partner with BlackEagle. They have repeatedly shown a commitment to the success of our business in addition to providing the strategic resources that adds value to our organization in this difficult environment.” Mr. Gibson continued, “Operating as an independent company again allows us many of the freedoms to improve services to our customers. A customer can walk in and talk to the people that make the decisions. We feel that’s important.”
Matt Ogden, Managing Principal of Building Industry Partners, said, “US LBM will continue to look for outstanding private pro dealer businesses and management teams that are seeking an equity capital partner to bolster working capital, support organic and acquisition-related growth initiatives and be in position to prosper coming out of the current U.S. residential construction downturn.”
Michael DuBay of Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn, LLP represented BlackEagle in the acquisition and Alvarez & Marsal Transaction Advisory Group provided financial and accounting diligence.
Source: http://www.blackeaglepartners.com/