By Dianne M. Pogoda
COMPANY NEWS
ELKAY, ZURN TO MERGE: Two leaders in clean and sustainable water-solution products, Elkay Manufacturing Co. and Zurn Water Solutions Corp., have agreed to merge in an all-stock deal worth $1.56 billion. The new company will be known as Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corp., and the transaction is expected to close during the third quarter of 2022. Both companies are focused on delivering sustainable products for water distribution with minimal impact on the environment. Elkay developed Smartwell Water Delivery Systems and the award-winning ezH2O bottle filling stations, among other products including sinks, faucets, drinking fountains and water coolers. Zurn’s portfolio includes water control, safety, distribution, drainage, finish plumbing and other environmental products.
DALTILE INTRODUCES TREND REPORT: With key themes of “Restorative Nature,” “Female Celebration” and “Self-Expression,” tile producer Daltile has released it first trend report highlighting interior design, color and tile trends for 2022. Read more in KBB.
HDI ACQUIRES MID-AM: Langley, B.C.-based Hardwoods Distribution Inc., one of North America’s largest distributors of architectural grade building and millwork products, has purchased Mid-Am Building Supply, a leading wholesale distributor of building products to customers in the American Midwest, for $270 million. The acquisition will expand HDI’s presence in the Midwest, adding to its existing network of 83 distribution centers. Mid-Am operates five distribution centers serving 10 states. Under HDI, Mid-Am will continue to operate under its current name and join HDI’s other operating brands Rugby Architectural Building Products, Hardwoods Specialty Products, Novo Building Products, and Frank Paxton Lumber.
WITHERSPOON’S SUNSHINE BUYS HOME EDIT: Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine media and entertainment company has acquired The Home Edit, a lifestyle brand and home organization company founded by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, according to Business of Home. The Home Edit operates a full-service home organizing business in nine states and sells books and product lines, including exclusives at Walmart. The two companies collaborated in 2020 when Hello Sunshine produced a Netflix series, Get Organized With the Home Edit. The brand also launched a special-edition magazine with tips for organizing the home, published by Dotdash Meredith and titled The Home Edit: Feel Good Organizing. It hit newsstands last week.
LONDON DESIGN ON TAP: Interior design will be in the spotlight March 13 to 18 in London for the 2022 London Design Week. It begins with an international launch online on March 13, and from the 14th to 18th, 120 showrooms, 600 international brands and pop-up displays at the Design Centre in Chelsea Harbor will conduct in-person events and programming. For more info, click here.
HOME RETAILING STILL SOLID: The boom in home goods retailing might be slowing somewhat, but it’s far from over — and even if it softens throughout the year, most retailers will still be ahead of the game. Business of Home reports.
PEOPLE NEWS
DURVIT TAPS DOWNIE: Duravit NA has named Robert “Bob” Downie president of its North American operations. Downie brings three decades of experience to this role, with an extensive background in consumer and building product goods. He was most recently at LIXIL Water Technologies Americas for five years, serving as senior vice president for Trade Channel & Commercial Sales and overseeing the development and implementation of all channel-related strategies. Prior to that, he held sales leadership roles at Delta Faucet Co. and Owens Corning Homexperts. Downie holds an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University and is based in St. Augustine, Fla.
MOUSSAVI HONORED: British-Iranian architect Farshid Moussavi has won this year’s Jane Drew Prize for elevating the profile of women in architecture. Moussavi studied to become an architect at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design (where she also teaches), University College London and University of Dundee. She is also an educator and writer, and founded her namesake firm in 2011. Among her key projects is the Museum of Contemporary Art in Cleveland, Victoria Beckham’s flagship in London and the Jardins de la in Montpellier, France.
