Tampa, Florida – July 15, 2008 – Hyde Park Capital Advisors, LLC is pleased to announce the sale of Zickgraf Hardwood Flooring Company to Shaw Industries Group, Inc., a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. Zickgraf Hardwood Flooring is a 75 year old privately held company with wood flooring manufacturing facilities located in Franklin and Bryson City, North Carolina. Hyde Park Capital Advisors, LLC, the investment banking subsidiary of Hyde Park Capital Partners, LLC, served as the company’s exclusive financial advisor in the transaction.
Zickgraf Hardwood Flooring is one of the industry leaders in unfinished and pre-finished solid hardwood flooring, offering superior quality in an unmatched selection of species and widths. The company, founded in 1933 by W.C. Zickgraf, is based in Franklin, North Carolina. W.C. Zickgraf’s son, Grant Zickgraf, became owner and president in 1953. Grant Zickgraf sold the company to F.P. Bodenheimer, Jr. in 1991, and Mr. Bodenheimer became CEO. Zickgraf operates out of two facilities and sells its product through wholesalers, distributors and directly to retail customers. The state-of-the-art operations facility supports solid hardwood flooring production.
Technologically advanced equipment has been incorporated into the manufacturing process to help create superior, high-quality products and efficient, cost-minimizing manufacturing facilities. In addition to the company-operated facility located in Franklin, NC, there is also a pre-finished flooring facility in Bryson City, NC that supports the production of pre-finished hardwood flooring. Zickgraf is the largest employer in the Franklin, NC community with an average of 320 employees. For more information about Zickgraf, visit www.zickgraf.com.
F.P. Bodenheimer, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Zickgraf said, “We appreciate the assistance of the investment bankers at Hyde Park Capital on this sale transaction. In a difficult economy and in challenging financial markets for consumer product manufacturers like Zickgraf, whose products are tied to residential construction, Hyde Park successfully marketed our company and helped us conclude an attractive sale to a strong, blue chip strategic buyer. This was an important deal to me and my family, to our Zickgraf employees and to the Franklin, North Carolina community, and I am optimistic that Shaw will be a great corporate owner going forward to the future benefit of both Zickgraf and Franklin.”
John H. Hill Jr., Senior Managing Director of Hyde Park Capital, said, “We are very pleased that we could help Mr. Bodenheimer and his family accomplish a successful sale of Zickgraf. We appreciate the opportunity to work with Mr. Bodenheimer, who is such an outstanding business and civic leader in North Carolina, and with Zickgraf, a first rate company.”
About Shaw Industries
Shaw Industries Group, Inc., a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., is the world’s largest carpet manufacturer and a leading floor covering provider with more than $5 billion in annual sales and approximately 31,000 associates. Headquartered in Dalton, GA, the company manufactures and distributes carpeting, rugs, hardwood, laminate and ceramic tile for residential and commercial applications worldwide. A recognized leader in environmental stewardship, Shaw has implemented hundreds of sustainability initiatives and cradle to cradle design solutions, collectively termed the Shaw Green Edge. For more information, visit www.shawfloors.com.
About Hyde Park Capital
Hyde Park Capital is an institutionally focused investment banking firm serving the corporate finance needs of companies typically located in the Southeastern United States. Our principals have extensive investment banking experience executing merger & acquisition engagements, including purchase and sale of company assignments, recapitalizations, financial advisory, fairness opinions and raising growth capital for companies, including equity, mezzanine and senior debt. With experience in the technology, healthcare, financial services, business services, consumer, and industrial sectors, we broadly represent outstanding growth companies in any industry. We pride ourselves on our professional representation of family owned and entrepreneurial driven large private companies. As one of the most active investment banking firms in the Southeast, our professionals have advised on more than 300 corporate investment banking transactions totaling more than $10 billion in transaction value. We are headquartered in Tampa, Florida and are a member of FINRA and SIPC. For additional information about Hyde Park Capital, visit www.hydeparkcapital.com or call (813) 383-0202.
