Hearthlist Digest #154 - Friday, June 19, 1998 Vermont Castings Reunion/Dedication by "Craig Issod" <[email protected]> Lennox Buys Superior, Whitfield and more.. by "Craig Issod" <[email protected]>
(back) Subject: Vermont Castings Reunion/Dedication From: Craig Issod <[email protected]> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 08:50:24 -0400 Note: this is a re-broadcast of an earlier message. If you are thinking of coming, please respond to the email addresses given in the text below... On July 3 the Vermont Castings Gazebo will be dedicated to Murray Howell and Duncan Syme. You are cordially invited to be part of the official dedication of the Vermont Castings Gazebo (now located in beautiful downtown Randolph) This will be a great time to visit (and party with) with many of the alumni of Vermont Castings and long time employees, plus some of the many dealers that were even crazier with we were! Weve got some fun things planned including a mini museum of VC artifacts, a pot luck dinner and party at Stephen Morrises house. This is not a Majestic/VC organized event but rather a get together and celebration put together by the friends and family of Murray Howell and Duncan Syme and some of the personalities that were part of the Vermont Castings experience. If you are (or were) a Vermont Castings dealer who helped make it happen way back when (and you know who you are) we invite you to join in is this reunion of old friends. I hope to see you there, Charlie Page Schedule of Events 4 pm Assemble at Stephen Morris household 5 pm Dedication of gazebo, Hearthfelt speeches 6 pm Potluck dinner at Morrises 7 pm Serious work on the keg 8 pm Not-so-heartfelt, but outrageous speeches 9 pm Find someplace to view the fireworks Please RSVP to Vermont Castings Alumni Association in care of Stephen Morris, 20 South Main Street, Randolph, Vermont 05060 or call (802) 728-9014 or email:[email protected] or [email protected] If you need local accommodations please call the Randolph Area Chamber of Commerce at (802) 728-9027 or email at [email protected].
(back) Subject: Lennox Buys Superior, Whitfield and more.. From: Craig Issod <[email protected]> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 16:03:14 -0400 For Immediate Release For More Information: Karen OShea, Vice President Communications and Public Relations 972-497-5172 Lennox Continues Hearth Products Expansion Plans Announces New Subsidiary; Acquires Four Companies Lennox Industries Inc. has announced the formation of a new hearth products subsidiary and the acquisition of four established hearth products companies which will put its combined annual sales at well in excess of $150 million, according to Bob Schjerven, president of Lennox Industries. Operating under Hearth Products Inc. a new, wholly-owned subsidiary of Lennox International Inc., a global leader in heat transfer systems the company has acquired four well-established hearth products companies: Superior Fireplace Company, Marco Manufacturing, Portland Willamette, and Whitfield. Hearth Products Inc. grew out of Lennox Hearth Products , which started in 1996 as a separate business unit of Lennox Industries. Were pleased to welcome these four highly-respected companies to our corporate family, said Warren Hanselman, president of Hearth Products Inc. We especially value their brand names and loyal following of their many customers. As we described last fall, these are simply Lennox next steps in building a major presence in the hearth products industry. We look forward to continuing our plans for growth. Business As Usual Hanselman said plans are to continue the name and operation of all four newly acquired companies. For these companies, their employees and their customers, it will business as usual, he explained. All four will continue to provide outstanding service and products to their markets under their own brand names. As we move forward with our growth plans, we will be managing an increasingly broad spectrum of products, talents, skills, and assets, Hanselman said. We determined these new and widely varied opportunities would be most effectively managed through a subsidiary instead of a business unit. We hope to nurture some real synergies that will help not only Lennox, but the entire industry to tap into the varied experience and talent available from well-established leaders in their respective fields. In return, we hope to provide them with a stable platform through our extensive financial, engineering, and manufacturing resources. Sharing Knowledge and Expertise Lennox will continue to grow its own hearth products line. There is minimal overlap between the customer bases of these four companies, whether compared with each other or with Lennox, Hanselman said. In fact, we all hope to share our knowledge and expertise with each other in developing new products for each company. Both Marco and Superior are respected leaders in the fireplace field. Whitfield is considered the premier supplier of pellet stoves, plus a rapidly evolving gas line of freestanding stoves and inserts which Lennox hopes to help expand. Portland Wilammett, according to Hanselman, is the premium industry supplier for glass doors and other high-quality accessory items for fireplaces. They also have a broad line of premium gas logs. All four of these companies were looking for a strong partner who could help grow their business, Hanselman said. Lennox reputation for quality, our heritage of innovation, and solid financial resources helped us to assure them we were committed to the same principles on which they built their considerable reputations. We will continue exploring opportunities with other companies seeking a synergistic partnership with a company committed to being a leader in the hearth products industry, both now and in the future.