Alexander Lumber and U.S. LBM announce major lumber acquisitions

CHICAGO (Scrap Monster): Aurora, Illinois-based Alexander Lumber announced yesterday the acquisition of Nagle Lumber Company in Iowa City. In another acquisition deal, U.S. LBM Holdings has announced that it has acquired the Michigan-based Keene Lumber Company.

In a news release by the company, Russ Kathrein, president and CEO of Alexander Lumber noted that the company has been looking to acquire high quality companies that will augment its growth trajectory. Also, the acquisition of Nagle Lumber will help the company to diversify its business outside of its traditional Illinois base. The acquired business will now operate under the name of Alexander Lumber, Kathrein stated.

Meantime, Jeff Maske, co-owner, Nagle Lumber stated that its employees and customers are highly excited about the opportunities that Alexander Lumber and their vendors would bring in. The planned investment by Alexander Lumber in the Iowa City facility will help them to remain as the primary supplier to Iowa City Market clients. Maske is assumed to take a new leadership role, as per the Alexander Lumber release.

Founded in 1922, Nagle Lumber Company is currently managed by Carlan Miller and Jeff Maske and is located in 1201 S Gilbert St, Iowa City. Last year, the Iowa City Council had approved the conditional rezoning of the facility, allowing a mix of residential and commercial developments at a maximum height of six stories. The company is a leading supplier of lumber, windows, millwork, cabinets and decking to the Iowa City-area builders, contractors and landlords.

Alexander Lumber is a privately held 125-year old company. It currently operates a total of 19 retail yards; 17 in Illinois and 2 in Wisconsin, truss plants in Cortland and Leroy, Illinois, a countertop operation in Decatur, Illinois and a showroom/sales office in Twin Lakes Wisconsin. 

In a second major acquisition deal announced during the week, U.S. LBM Holdings had added Muskegon, Mich. based Keene Lumber Company to its Standard Companies. The company press release stated that Keene Lumber will become a division of Grand Rapid-headquartered Standard Supply and Lumber. Further, all employees of Keene Lumber will be retained.

The new division will be headed by Kevin Kooi, General Manager, Keene Lumber. He stated that the entire team at Keene Lumber is excited to join U.S. LBM and Standard and is looking forward to the new opportunities that Standard would bring in through the new partnership.

Standard Companies President Tim Rottschafer welcomed Keene’s team to its fold. He further noted that Keene’s reputation for excellence will take its operations to new levels. The location of the facility in Western Michigan and the products and services offered by the company in the region perfectly matches Standard’s existing portfolio of business, Rottschafer added.

Founded in 1935 by Emir and James Keene, Keene Lumber Company is a full service provider of building materials to the residential and commercial markets in the Muskegon area. Keene’s products include cabinetry and hardware, decking, flooring, roofing, siding and windows, with services ranging from home remodeling, kitchen and bath design, floor systems design to roof truss design and engineering.

U.S. LBM is one of the largest specialty building materials distributor in the United States and recipient of the 2015 ProSales Dealer of the Year award. U.S. LBM operates a network of leading specialty building material distributors across the United States with operating locations in 27 states. U.S. LBM implements the philosophy of local management and leadership to capitalize on the premier reputation of its operating companies and local customer relationships.