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2007

Premier Farnell Moves Into China

Free, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

UK-based Premier Farnell plc, a global distributor of electronic components and industrial products, has launched its business in China as Premier Electronics. It is focused on the local needs of China’s electronic design engineering community.
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The launch of Premier Electronics, which included the opening of a new warehouse and distribution centre in WaiGaoQia, is set to play a key role in Premier Farnell’s strategy to increase its focus on the global electronic design engineering segment.
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In a release, Premier said it would focus on tailoring its business to the local culture, and not assume a cookie cutter approach to internationalizing the business.”
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In China, Premier will offer a fully transactional Web site and catalogue in the …

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Eaton Acquires UK-Based Aphel Technologies

Companies, Electrical, Free, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, OH, has acquired UK-based Aphel Technologies Limited, a supplier of high-density, fault-tolerant power distribution solutions for data centers, technical offices, laboratories and retail environments.
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In 2006, Aphel Technologies had sales of $12.3 million.
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The acquisition of Aphel Technologies expands our power quality and distribution offerings to customers in key European markets,” said Randy Carson, Eaton senior vice president and president – Electrical Group.
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Eaton Corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturer with 2006 sales of $12.4 …

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Rexel to List on European Exchange April 5

Companies, Electrical, Free, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

Paris-based electrical distributor Rexel will be officially listed Thursday, April 5, 2007, on Eurolist by Euronext, a European exchange. Forbes reports that the company will set a price for its initial public offering Wednesday night, aiming toward the lower end of 16.35-19.00 euros.

(Here’s a pdf of the details of the offer. Look to the second half of the document for English.)

Owners of Rexel, Eurazeo, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, and Merrill Lynch, will maintain control over the distributor. The group is seeking to raise around 1.015 billion euro at the midpoint of the price range, …

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Pro-Build Subsidiary Buys Riverside Roof Truss

Building Materials/Construction, Companies, Finance, Free, Mergers & Acquisitions, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

US Components, Morristown, NJ, a truss and wall panel supplier and subsidiary of Pro-Build Holdings, has acquired Riverside Roof Truss, Home Channel News reported.
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Riverside Roof Truss, Danville, VA, is a high-volume maker of floor and roof trusses for Virginia and North Carolina area builders.
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HCN says that the addition of Riverside expands US Components’ reach from New York to South Carolina.
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According to Pro-Build, US Components will look to continue its expansion through acquisitions as well as start-up operations. Eventually, US components will provide truss and wall panel products to all of Pro-Build’s building supply locations, HCN reported.
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US Components operates six truss plants in the East and Northeast. Pro-Build …

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MSC Industrial Reports Softening in 2Q

Companies, Free, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

MSC Industrial Direct Inc., Melville, NY, distributor of MRO supplies to industrial customers, reported sales of $404.6 million in the second quarter 2007, an increase of 32.3% from the same period last year. J & L Industry Supply, acquired in 2006, accounted for 70% of this growth.

Growth minus the J & L acquisition was 9% in the second quarter, according to MDM calculations.
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Profit for the second quarter 2007 increased 21.5% to $40.5 million.
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Sales in the first half of fiscal 2007 were $806.6 million, an increase of 34% versus a year ago, with J & L accounting for 70% of this growth. Growth minus J & L was about 10% in the first half.&nbsp ; Profit for the first half of fiscal 2007 was $80.8 million, compared to $65.3 million in the …

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Alfa Laval Acquires Dutch Company Helpman

Free, News, Power Transmission/Motion Control/Fluid Power, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

Alfa Laval, Stockholm, Sweden, manufacturer in heat transfer, centrifugal separation and fluid handling, has finalized the acquisition of the Dutch company Helpman B V.

Helpman is manufacturer in the European market for air heat exchangers used in the sensitive logistical chain for food, such as refrigeration and temperature control to secure the final quality of the products. Helpman had a turnover in 2006 of about SEK 200 million and has 130 employees in R & D, sales and at two manufacturing units, in Groningen, Netherlands and in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Alfa Laval’s products are also used in power plants, aboard ships, in the mechanical engineering industry, in the mining industry and for wastewater treatment, as well as for comfort climate and refrigeration …

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Parker Hannifin Adds to Global Fluid Handling Business

Companies, Free, News, Power Transmission/Motion Control/Fluid Power, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

Parker Hannifin, Cleveland, OH, has acquired Rectus AG, a manufacturer of quick disconnect couplings and related products for pneumatic, hydraulic, medical and chemical processing applications.
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The company had revenues of about $115 million in 2006. It employs 380 people worldwide including its headquarters in Nussdorf, Germany, its Nycoil operation in Randleman, NC, its TEMA operation in Skovde, Sweden, and several international sales offices.
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Rectus will operate within the Industrial North America and Industrial International segments of Parker’s global fluid connectors business.
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With annual sales exceeding $9 billion, Parker Hannifin is a diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems for a wide variety of …

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Saint-Gobain to Move Abrasives Plant to Mexico

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The Worcester Telegram & Gazette in Worcester, MA, reported that Saint-Gobain Abrasives will close its Littleton, NH, manufacturing plant and move its operations to Mexico.
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The plant employs 43. It produces sharpening stones, abrasive sticks and microabrasive products. The closing is expected by the end of the …

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Construction Spending Flat From January

Building Materials/Construction, Economic Trends, Free, News, Research & Analytics, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

Construction spending during February 2007 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,170.8 billion, 0.3 percent (& plusmn; 1.4%) …

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Manufacturing Expands Again in March

Economic Trends, Free, News, Research & Analytics, Subscriber Only /

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in March for the second consecutive month, while the overall economy grew for the 65th consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing Institute for Supply Management Report On Business& reg; .
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Manufacturing improved slightly in March as the PMI reflected growth for the second consecutive month. The New Orders and Production Indexes advanced while the Employment and Inventories Indexes declined. A positive for March is the Customers’ Inventories Index (falling below 50% after five consecutive months above the breakeven line), which is a possible indication that manufacturers’ inventories are nearing satisfactory levels. On the negative side, prices appear to be …

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FCX Performance Buys RVS Controls

Finance, Free, Mergers & Acquisitions, News, Power Transmission/Motion Control/Fluid Power, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

Flow control distributor FCX Performance, Inc., Columbus, OH, has acquired RVS Controls & Instrumentation, distributor of process control instrumentation serving industrial customers in eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Washington D.C.
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With the acquisition, FCX expands its product range offered in the area through its Sewell, NJ, branch.
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FCX has about $120 million in annual sales, 15 offices serving 21 states and more than 190 …

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U.S. Steel to Acquire Lonestar Technologies for $2.1B

Finance, Free, Mergers & Acquisitions, Metals Service Centers, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

United States Steel Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA, has agreed to buy Lone Star Technologies, Inc., Dallas, TX, a manufacturer of welded oilfield tubular goods, for $67.50 per share in cash, or about $2.1 billion. The price is a premium of about 39% to Lone Star’s closing share price March 28, 2007.
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Lone Star Technologies, Inc. is a $1.4 billion holding company whose principal operating subsidiaries manufacture and market oilfield casing, tubing and line pipe, specialty tubing products, including finned tubes used in a variety of heat recovery applications, and flat rolled steel and other tubular products and services.
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U. S. Steel expects that the acquisition of Lone Star will strengthen its position as a producer of tubular products for the energy sector and …

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Building Materials Holding Corp Acquires Riggs Plumbing

Building Materials/Construction, Finance, Free, HVACR, Mergers & Acquisitions, News, Plumbing Products & PVF Distribution, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

Building Materials Holding Corporation, San Francisco, CA, announced its wholly owned subsidiary, SelectBuild Construction, Inc. has completed the acquisition of the remaining 27% of Riggs Plumbing LLC.
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Riggs provides turnkey rough and finish plumbing installation to high-volume residential builders in the Phoenix and Tucson markets and in 2006 had sales of approximately $90 million.
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SelectBuild acquired its initial interest of 60% of Riggs in April 2005 and acquired an additional 13% in July 2005.
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BMHC is a provider of services and building materials in the U.S., serving the homebuilding industry through two subsidiaries: SelectBuild provides construction services to high-volume production homebuilders in growth markets across the country; …

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Lab Supplier VWR Buys German Distributor

Chemicals & Plastics Distribution, Companies, Finance, Free, Mergers & Acquisitions, News, Safety Products, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

VWR International, Inc., West Chester, PA, supplier to the global research laboratory industry, has acquired the remaining 76% interest in KMF Laborchemie Handels GmbH, a German-based scientific laboratory supply distributor.
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KMF has 70 employees, all based in Germany, with annual revenues of US$45 million.
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KMF’s customers include research institutes, universities, public control laboratories, pharmaceutical and other industries. In addition to its central warehouse in Sankt Augustin, Germany, KMF has branch offices in Lohmar and Leipzig. The Company’s mission is to deliver excellence in distribution of scientific supplies and customer service.
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VWR International is a lab supply distributor with worldwide sales in excess of $3 billion. VWR’s …

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Airgas to Buy Large Part of Linde’s Packaged Gas Business

Companies, Finance, Free, Gases & Welding Equipment, Mergers & Acquisitions, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

Airgas, Inc., Radnor, PA, &nbsp ; has agreed to buy a significant part of the U.S. packaged gas business of Linde AG for $310 million in cash.
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The operations to be acquired include branches, warehouses, packaged gas fill plants, and other operations involved in distributing packaged industrial and specialty gases and related equipment. The business includes 130 locations in 18 states, with more than 1,400 employees, which generated $346 million in revenues and $36 million in EBITDA in the year ended Dec. 31, 2006.&nbsp ; About 50% of the revenues were from gas sales and cylinder rent, with the remainder from sales of welding equipment and supplies.
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The proposed acquisition would be positive for customers, associates, and shareholders,” said Airgas Chairman …

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Platinum Equity Completes Purchase of Strategic Distribution

Finance, Free, Mergers & Acquisitions, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

Platinum Equity, Los Angeles, CA, has completed its acquisition of Strategic Distribution, Inc., MRO distributor to industrial and institutional customers in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

The acquisition is a public-to-private transaction and Strategic Distribution Inc. has been delisted from the NASDAQ exchange, with each share of common stock converted into the right to receive $10 in cash per share.

In conjunction with the acquisition, Platinum Equity announced that Rudi Strobl has been appointed as CEO of the business. Strobl is a senior executive who previously served as Deputy CEO of DyStar, a Platinum Equity company that is a manufacturer of textile …

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AmerisourceBergen to Add $2B Distributor to Portfolio

Finance, Free, Mergers & Acquisitions, News, Pharmaceutical & Health Care, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

AmerisourceBergen Corporation, Valley Forge, PA, has agreed to buy Bellco Health, a privately held distributor of branded and generic pharmaceuticals, for $235 million in cash.
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AmerisourceBergen said Bellco will add strength in the New York City area, as well as a sophisticated generic pharmaceuticals sales and marketing business. Bellco also sells dialysis products and services that will complement AmerisourceBergen’s specialty distribution business.
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Headquartered in North Amityville, New York, Bellco Health has annualized revenues of $2 billion and is a major pharmaceutical distributor in New York City, where it primarily services independent retail community pharmacies. Nationally, the company markets and sells generic pharmaceuticals to individual retail …

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Grainger to Expand Presence in Northeast

Companies, Facilities Maintenance (MRO), Free, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

Grainger, national distributor of facilities maintenance products, plans to expand and enhance its operations in the Northeast, particularly the New York City area, by revamping its distribution network. It will open new facilities, relocate others, and expand some of its existing facilities.

Grainger currently operates out of 23 locations in the area.&nbsp ; The company plans to increase its number of locations by about 25% and up its local workforce by 10-20%. Grainger will increase the size of its distribution network in the Tri-State area by about 40%.
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Grainger’s investments are part of the company’s market expansion initiative, a multi-year program designed to enhance Grainger’s presence in the top metropolitan markets across the U.S.&nbsp ; As part of this …

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84 Lumber Sued by EEOC

Building Materials/Construction, Free, Legal Issues in Wholesale Distribution, News, Operations, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has sued building materials distributor 84 Lumber, Eighty Four, PA, for failing to file an Employer Information Report for each year since 2005.
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In the lawsuit, filed in Pennsylvania’s Western District, says that 84 Lumber has not filed reports, despite “written notice and a demand for these documents from the EEOC.”
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The EEOC is the governing body that makes equal employment opportunity policy and approves most litigation. The General Counsel conducts litigation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Pay Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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For more information on laws and …

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Midwest, Northeast: Steep Drops in February Housing Starts

Building Materials/Construction, Economic Trends, Free, News, Research & Analytics, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

Building Permits
Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,532,000. This is 2.5 percent (& plusmn; 1.0%) below the revised January rate of 1,571,000 and is 28.6 percent (& plusmn; 1.1%) below the February 2006 estimate of 2,147,000.
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Single-family authorizations in February were at a rate of 1,089,000; this is 3.1 percent (& plusmn; 0.9%) below the January figure of 1,124,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 372,000 in February.
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Housing Starts
Privately-owned housing starts in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,525,000. This is 9.0 percent (& plusmn; 10.2%) …

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