Ferguson, based in Newport News, Va., has acquired certain assets of the Builders Group of Companies, headquartered in Addison, Ill., in a transaction that was completed Jan. 23.

Builders Plumbing & Heating Supply Co., Glendale Plumbing Supply Co., Inc., Southwest Pipe & Supply, Inc., and Spesco, Inc., formed the Builders Group of Companies, distributors of residential and commercial plumbing products.

Owned by the Kogan family for more than 50 years, the Builders Group filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 5, 2003 (see story, page 6, SUPPLY HOUSE TIMES, January 2004).

Ferguson's acquisition specifically includes 13 locations: the Addison, Ill., headquarters location and five other Illinois locations (Chicago, Crystal Lake, Mundelein, South Holland, and Burbank); two locations in Wisconsin (Madison and Milwaukee); three locations in Florida (Fort Myers, Lakeland and Winter Haven); one location in Kentucky (Louisville); and one in Indiana (Indianapolis).

The Builders Group location in South Bend, Ind., which operated under the name Spesco, was acquired by an unrelated third party, not Ferguson. Also, Ferguson did not purchase any assets associated with Kitchen Distributors of America, another company owned by the Kogan family.

Ferguson plans to continue operations at most of the acquired locations. The former headquarters location of the Builders Group in Addison, Ill., will close and be integrated into Ferguson's new main branch, also in Addison, which opened on Jan. 2. (see story, page 12, SUPPLY HOUSE TIMES, February 2004). Ferguson said it will also close the Glendale Pipe & Supply facility in Milwaukee, the Builders Plumbing & Heating Supply in Indianapolis, and the Southwest Pipe & Supply facility in Ft. Myers, Fla. They will be integrated into existing Ferguson locations in those cities.

The acquired Builders locations in the Chicago area will thrust Ferguson into a major market position in the region, while those outside Chicago will further strengthen areas where the wholesaler already has a major market presence, Ferguson said in a statement.

Ferguson, owned by Wolseley plc of Reading, England, was ranked No. 1 in the SUPPLY HOUSE TIMES Premier 150 list of wholesalers in May 2003. The company distributes plumbing supplies; pipes, valves and fittings; waterworks; and heating and air conditioning products. Wolseley's U.S. building distribution includes Ferguson and Stock Building Supply.