Ferguson Enterprises (Newport News, Va.) announced that it has purchased A-1 Pipe, Inc., Bridgeport, N.J., through an asset transaction completed June 16, 2003. The distributor of water pipe, sewer pipe, fire hydrants and valves, has annual sales of approximately $34 million and 43 full-time associates.

A-1 Pipe has additional locations in Folsom, N.J.; White Marsh, Md.; Philadelphia; Coatesville, Pa.; Bethlehem, Pa.; Oakdale, Pa., and New Cumberland, Pa. Seven of the locations specialize in waterworks products and one provides masonry related products. A-1 Pipe's locations in Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey complement the company's existing waterworks operations across Maryland and northern Virginia.

Ferguson also purchased, through a stock transaction, Huskey, Inc., a distributor of residential and commercial appliances and lighting products to builders and contractors, headquartered in Hampton, Va. The family-owned and operated company was founded in 1978 by Ralph Huskey as a hardware store. It has locations in Newport News, Williamsburg and Virginia Beach, Va., with 23 full-time associates and annual sales of approximately $8 million.

According to Rod Huskey, currently builder sales manager, Huskey began as a hardware store and eventually expanded into the appliance and lighting business. Prior to the transaction with Ferguson, the hardware portion of the business was sold to Joe and Patty Hoare, who will continue to operate the hardware store in the Hidenwood section of Newport News. Rod Huskey will continue with Ferguson in the company's builder sales division. Huskey's Newport News and Williamsburg locations will be merged into existing Ferguson locations in those cities The Hampton distribution center will be a satellite of Ferguson, Newport News. The Virginia Beach location will be merged with Ferguson's Chesapeake location and will be a satellite of Ferguson, Virginia Beach, Va.