Lowe's Announces Agreement To Acquire Artisan Design Group

Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) today [14th April] announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Artisan Design Group ("ADG") for $1.325 billion.  

ADG is a leading nationwide provider of design, distribution and installation services for interior surface finishes, including flooring, cabinets and countertops, to national, regional and local homebuilders and property managers. Through a combination of organic growth and a series of targeted acquisitions that extended its capabilities and footprint, ADG has built an industry leading position. With fiscal 2024 revenue of approximately $1.8 billion, a national network of over 3,200 specialized installers and long-standing relationships with single-family and multifamily homebuilders as well as property managers, ADG will expand Lowe's Pro offering into a new distribution channel within a highly fragmented, approximately $50 billion market.

"With more than 18 million homes needed in the United States by 20331, we expect new home construction will be a major driver of Pro planned spend for the next decade. The acquisition of ADG allows us to build on our momentum with Pro planned spend and is expected to expand our total addressable market by approximately $50 billion," said Marvin R. Ellison, Lowe's chairman, president and CEO. "With its strong, customer-centric operating model, ADG has become an industry leader with best-in-class customer satisfaction scores from the top builders in the U.S.  We look forward to welcoming the ADG team to Lowe's, and, through our combined capabilities, enhancing our offering to our expanded Pro customer base."

"We are thrilled for ADG to join forces with Lowe's," said Steve Margolius, ADG's CEO. "Our leading position in flooring, cabinets and countertops, combined with Lowe's scale and category breadth, will allow us to continue on our growth trajectory while providing an even more differentiated and comprehensive offering to the builders and property managers we serve today."

Lowe's will finance the acquisition with cash on hand. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025, subject to receipt of requisite regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

Advisors
Centerview Partners LLC is acting as lead financial advisor to Lowe's. Greenhill, a Mizuho affiliate, is also acting as financial advisor to Lowe's. Covington & Burling LLP is acting as legal advisor to Lowe's. RBC Capital Markets is acting as lead financial advisor to ADG. Goldman Sachs is also acting as financial advisor to ADG. Latham & Watkins LLP is acting as legal advisor to ADG.

The Sterling Group Announcement

The Sterling Group ("Sterling"), a middle market private equity firm, announced today that it has agreed to sell Artisan Design Group ("ADG" or the "Company") to Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) for $1.325 billion. ADG is a leading nationwide provider of design, distribution and installation services for interior surface finishes, including flooring, cabinets and countertops, to national, regional, and local homebuilders and property managers.

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ADG operates 132 distribution, design and service facilities and coordinates installation through over 3,200 personnel across 18 states. "Since initially partnering with co-founders Larry Barr and Wayne Joseph in 2018, Sterling has been proud to support ADG during a period of significant growth and expansion," said Johann Friese, Director at The Sterling Group. Under Sterling's ownership, ADG has completed 15 acquisitions, each of which was founder or entrepreneur owned. Sterling has a 40+ year history of partnering with founder- and family-owned industrial businesses.

ADG will expand Lowe's Pro offering into a new distribution channel within a highly fragmented, approximately $50 billion market. "With more than 18 million homes needed in the United States by 2033, we expect new home construction will be a major driver of Pro planned spend for the next decade. The acquisition of ADG allows us to build on our momentum with Pro planned spend and is expected to expand our total addressable market by approximately $50 billion," said Marvin R. Ellison, Lowe's chairman, president and CEO. "With its strong, customer-centric operating model, ADG has become an industry leader with best-in-class customer satisfaction scores from the top builders in the U.S. We look forward to welcoming the ADG team to Lowe's, and, through our combined capabilities, enhancing our offering to our expanded Pro customer base."

"We are thrilled for ADG to join forces with Lowe's," said Steve Margolius, ADG's CEO. "Our leading position in flooring, cabinets and countertops, combined with Lowe's scale and category breadth, will allow us to continue on our growth trajectory while providing an even more differentiated and comprehensive offering to the builders and property managers we serve today."

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025, subject to receipt of requisite regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. RBC Capital Markets is acting as lead financial advisor to ADG. Goldman Sachs is also acting as financial advisor to ADG. Latham & Watkins LLP is acting as legal advisor to ADG.

About Artisan Design Group

ADG provides design, distribution, and installation services for interior finishes including flooring, cabinets, and countertops to national and local homebuilders and property managers. Formed in 2016 by the merging of two industry leaders, ADG currently operates 132 distribution, design, and service facilities in 18 states, and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

About The Sterling Group

Founded in 1982, The Sterling Group is a private equity and private credit investment firm that targets investments in basic manufacturing, distribution, and industrial services companies. Typical enterprise values of these companies at initial formation range from $100 million to $750 million. Sterling has sponsored the buyout of 74 platform companies and numerous add-on acquisitions for a total transaction value of over $25 billion. Sterling currently has $9.4 billion of assets under management. For further information, please visit www.sterling-group.com.

Source : Lowe's 

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