Wolseley Makes Eight Acquisitions Since August

Wolseley plc, Reading, England, said it has spent $156.6 million (U.S.) in cash on the acquisition of eight distribution businesses in Europe and North America since Aug. 1. The eight completed acquisitions are expected to add about $306 million (U.S.) to the company's sales in a full year. Good will related to these acquisitions is estimated at about $81 million (U.S.).

Sudbury Valve Fitting & Control Ltd., Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. In August, Wolseley Canada acquired Sudbury Valve Fitting & Control Ltd., from SVFC Holdings Inc. and members of the Smith family. SVFC supplies industrial valves, valve actuation and instrumentation to the mining, pulp and paper and related industries in northern and central Ontario and Quebec. In the fiscal year ended May 31, SVFC had sales of $3.8 million (U.S.)

Park Supply, Chicago. Also in August, Ferguson acquired certain assets associated with the business trading as Park Supply, a wholesale distributor of heating, ventilation, cooling, hydronics equipment and supplies. In addition to the headquarters in Chicago, the acquisition includes seven other Chicago area locations and one in Hammond, Ind. This purchase will significantly increase Ferguson's presence in the northern Illinois marketplace and expand its customer base. In the year ended Dec. 31, Park Supply had sales of $48.5 million (U.S.).

S&S Fabrication and Supply Co., Mechanicsville, Va. Another acquisition by Ferguson in August involved certain assets from S&S Fabrication and Supply Co. This acquisition will increase Ferguson's ability to provide fire protection services in the Hampton Roads area and strengthen its presence in northern Virginia/D.C. S&S will trade as Ferguson Fire and Fabrication. In the year ended Dec. 31, S&S had sales of $1.7 million (U.S.).

Contractors Field Products Inc., Charlotte, N.C. Ferguson acquired certain assets of Contractors Field Products in September. CFP is a geotechnical and environmental sitework supplier. Geotextiles and erosion control products complement and are a natural extension of Ferguson's existing waterworks line. In the year ended Dec. 31, CFP had sales of $13.2 million (U.S.).

Economy Plumbing & Heating Supply Co., Philadelphia. Ferguson acquired this wholesale distributor from members of the Abrams family. Economy supplies plumbing and heating equipment to the commercial and residential markets. In the year ended July 31, the company had sales of $26.1 million (U.S.).

Endries Inc. and Endries International Inc., Brillion, Wis. Ferguson acquired these companies from members of the Endries family and a family trust in a pair of stock transactions completed Sept. 30. Endries is an ISO-certified, international provider of Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) and Maintenance Repair Operations (MRO) services for OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). Industrial fasteners represent the bulk of its volume. Endries has annual sales of about $150 million (U.S.) and employs more than 500 associates. It operates a network of 70 branch locations across America and also has small operations in Canada, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. In addition to the headquarters, the acquisition includes leased locations in the United States as well as locations at customer sites. The company will operate as part of Ferguson's Commercial/Industrial Business Group and trade as Endries International Inc. and Endries Inc., Ferguson subsidiaries. Steve Endries, president, will remain with the company. Endries supplies fasteners and hardware, electrical components, pipe, valves and fittings, tools, accessories and industrial supplies. In the year ended July 31, Endries had sales of $149.5 million (U.S.).

HGH Plumbing Supplies, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. Wolseley UK acquired the company, a specialist merchant of plastic above-ground drainage products. Its sales for the year ended Jan. 31 were $10.6 million (U.S.).

Centratec Group, Belgium. Wolseley acquired this distributor of domestic and commercial heating equipment and pipe-valves-fittings that operates six locations. Its sales for the year ended Dec. 31 were $51.8 million (U.S.).

Note: all sales figures are based on an exchange rate of 1 pound = $1.80.