Goodbye, Stock: Wolseley Wants Out

Stock Building Supply, Raleigh, N.C., will be sold or closed by August, according to U.K.-based parent company Wolseley.

"We continue to have approaches and we're in discussions with a number of groups," said Chip Hornsby, Wolseley's c.e.o. "It's proceeding well. We are in the due diligence process and we anticipate making a decision by no later than the end of April."

Ferguson Enterprises, Wolseley's plumbing and heating business in North America, will remain open.

Since August 2OO7 , Wolseley has cut 17,000 jobs and closed 713 branches at Stock-includine 3.000 job cuts announced last October. Sales were $5.3 billion in the fiscal year ended in July 2006 and $3.5 billion just two years later. In fiscal 2008, the company lost more than $200 million.

With little sign of a turnaround in the housing market, Wolseley said it has no choice but to get rid of the U.S. division. "The market moved so quickly. Everything stopped," Hornsby said. "We began to see jobs stopping in midstream because of lack of financing."

Previous attempts to sell Stock Building Supply failed. Last summer, HD Supply, Pro-Build and Builders FirstSource showed interest, but a deal was not reached.

Weyerhaeuser Closing 11 DCs, Mills

Weyerhaeuser Co., Federal Way, Wa., this spring will indefinitely close four engineered wood products plants and permanently shutter two lumber mills and five distribution centers, including Albuquerque, N.M., and Las Vegas and Reno, Nv.

Temporarily idled will be ilevel veneer and engineered wood mills in Evergreen, Al., and Dodson and Simsboro. La.. and a TimberStrand mill in Chavies, Ky. Also permanently closing are DCs in Cincinnati and Columbus, Oh.

In mid-March, Weyco closed its ilevel lumber mills in Dallas, Or., and Wright City, Ok.

Since the start of the vear. the com- pany has closed l0 mills. The latest round of cuts affect nearly 800 employees at ll locations.

"Demand for wood products continues to decline due to a slowdown in the housing market, and virtually all of our operating facilities are experiencing reduced operations," said Tom Gideon, executive v.p.-forest products. "As a result of these challenging market conditions, the four manufacturing mills will close for an indefinite period of time to balance supply with our demand."

Customers will be served from from other ilevel facilities. The cutbacks will leave Weyerhaeuser with 26 DCs in the U.S.

Canada Hit With Wood Thriff Penalty

In late February, the Court of International Arbitration in London, Ont., ruled that in 2007 lumber producers in Canada shipped to the U.S. over their quota levels under the U.S.Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement. As a result. Canada was ordered to impose an additional 107o export tax until an imposed remedy judgment is collected.

This is good news for the U.S. Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports, which had protested the shipments. Chairman Steve Swanson said that "this arbitral decision is a clear step in the right direction, but better overall Canadian compliance is a must if the Softwood Lumber Trade Asreement is to survive as an alternative to resumed trade litigation."

He said that significant compliance problems remain because Canada is violating the trade agreement both by breaching export measure commitments and by circumventing those commitments through additional subsidies and related actions.

"All that the U.S. industry and workers have ever asked for is that Canada live up to its commitments under the Softwood Lumber Trade Agreement," said Swanson. "U.S. companies and workers should not be forced to suffer additional harm in these difficult times as Canada skirts its trade agreement obligations."

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Listings are often submitted months in advance. Always verfu dates and locations with sponsor before making plans to attend.

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Lumber Assn. of California & Nevada - April 16, golf tourney, Black Gold Golf Course, Yorba Linda, Ca.; (800) 266-4344.

Structural Insulated Panel Association - April 17-20 annual meeting, Chicago, Il.; (253) 858-1472.

Los Angeles Hardwood Lumberman's Club - April 18, day at races, Santa Anita Racetrack, Arcadia, Ca;(714) 67 1-30'79.

American Institute of Timber Construction - April l9-21, annual meeting, Rancho Bernardo Inn, San Diego, Ca.; (303) 792-9559.

American Wood-Preservers' Association - April 19-21, annual meeting, San Antonio, Tx.; (800) 356-1974.

American Hardware Manufacturers Association - April 1922, technology forum, Philadelphia, Pa.; (84'7) 605-1025.

Transload Distribution Association - April 20-22, conference, Green Valley Ranch, Henderson, Nv.; (503) 656-4282.

Western Red Cedar Lumber Association - April 2O-23, cedar school, Vancouver, B.C.; (604) 891-1231.

California Forestry Association - April 21, legislative reception, Mason's Restaurant, Sacramento, Ca.; (916) 444-6592.

Inland Empire Hoo-Hoo Club - April 24, golf tournament, San Dimas Canyon Golf Club, San Dimas, Ca.; (760) 324-0842.

Remodeling & Decorating Shows - April 24-26, South Town Expo Center, Sandy, Ut., and Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, Ca.; (818) 55'7-2950.

Hardwood Plywood & Veneer Association - April 26-2E, spring conference, Atlantic Beach, N.C.; (703) 435-2900.

North American Wholesale Lumber Association - April26-28, executive conference, Loews Lake Las Vegas, Henderson, Nv.: (800) 527-8258.

National Paint & Coatings Assn. - April26-29, annual meeting & technical conference, Indianapolis, ln.; (202) 462-6272.

National Wood Flooring Association - April 29-May 2, annual conference & expo, Long Beach, Ca.; (636) 391-5161.

Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America/Woodworking Machinery Industry Association - April 29-May 2, annual conferences, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl.; (215) 564-3484.

National Kitchen & Bath Association - April 30-May 3, annual conference & show, Atlanta, Ga.; (800) 843-6522.

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Remodeling & Decorating Show - May 1-3, Orange County Fairgrounds, Costa Mesa, Ca.; (818) 557-2950.

Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association - May 2-6, annual convention & exhibition, JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort, Palm Desert, Ca.; (847) 680-3500.

National Hardware Show - May 5-7, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nv.; (847) 605-1025.

JLC Live Show - May 5-8, Long Beach Convention Convention Center, I-ong Beach, Ca.; (800) 261-7769.

National Association of Home Builders - May 8-10, national green building conference, Dallas, Tx.; (800) 368-5242.

Forest Products Society - May l1-12, international conference on wood composites, Madison, Wi.; (608) 231-1361

Los Angeles Hardwood Lumberman's Club - May 14, ladies night, Pomona Valley Mining Co., Pomona, Ca.; (7 14) 61 l3079.

Portland Hoo-Hoo Club - May 15, blood drive, World Forestry Center, Portland, Or.; (503) 647-5011.

Seattle Hoo-Hoo - May 15-L6, regional mini-conference, Seattle, Wa; (425) 883-2777

Do it Best Corp. - May 16-19, spring market, Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, In.; (260) 748-5300.

Umpqua Valley Lumber Association has cancelled all events for 2009, but hopes to reinstate Mill Week in 2010.

Lumber Association of California & Nevada will gather for a 2nd Growth meeting for May 7 at the Holiday Inn, Long Beach, Ca.

Seattle Hoo-Hoo Club is hosting Hoo-Hoo International's Jurisdiction III Northwest regional mini-convention May 15-16 at the Residence Inn by Marriott, Seattle, Wa.

Social events will include a firstnight dinner, buffet breakfast, and a dinner cruise aboard the SS Vireinia V Steamer.

National Hoo-Hoo-Ette Club is holding its annual convention May 15l7 at Kings Inn Hotel, San Diego, Ca. Highlights include a guided tour of the U.S.S. Midway aircraft carrier and lunch at Seaport Village.

Lumbermen's Underwriting Alliance has awarded over $350000 in returned premiums to National Hardwood Lumber Association and its members who participated in LUA's Partnership program in 2008.

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The return is based on the commendable loss ratio of 387o.

"The VIP Program was started in 2006 to recognize NHLA members who share the same commitment to property conservation as the LUA," said LUA president and chief operating officer Michael North. "In these challenging economic times, it is gratifying to reward our customers and directly have an impact on everyone's bottom line."

Mountain States Lumber & Building Materials Dealers Association has three webinars lined up"Increasing Your Commercial Business" with Ted Garrison May 8, "Chain of Custody" by Craig Webb May 13, and a l0-hour OSHA course starting May 15.

Upcoming seminars include "Great Ideas from America's Lumberyards" by Craig Webb June 11 at Little America, Salt Lake City, Ut., and "Management: Back to the Basics" by the Mountain States Employers Council Jlune 26 in Denver, Co.

MSLBMDA's recent LBM expo in Denver sold out 93Vo of its booths. Outstanding booth awards were presented to Simpson Strong-Tie (best ( Please turn to page 4 I )