BlueLinx Sees Increased Opportunity to Significantly Grow Engineered Lumber Business With Georgia Pacific's Purchase of Thorsby Facility
ATLANTA, March 1, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- BlueLinx Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BXC), a leading distributor of building products in North America and a Fortune 500 company, today announced that the purchase by Georgia-Pacific Wood Products South LLC of the former International Paper Engineered Lumber facility at Thorsby, Ala., provides BlueLinx with a significant opportunity to expand its engineered lumber business in the Central, Southwest and Midwest markets.
BlueLinx distributes engineered lumber in these markets under the Wood I Beam(tm) and G-P Lam(r) Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) names. Operating at full capacity, the Thorsby facility has the ability to considerably expand the supply of engineered lumber available through BlueLinx in these markets as well as in the company's existing core markets.
"As a key distributor for Georgia-Pacific, BlueLinx already sells products manufactured at G-P's two other engineered lumber facilities located at Roxboro, N.C., and Ocala, Fla.," said George Judd, President and Chief Operating Officer of BlueLinx Corporation. "G-P's Thorsby purchase expands our geographic reach, allowing us to serve more of our customers with these products, and strengthening our long-term commitment to the engineered lumber business."
Engineered Lumber provides greater strength and stability over longer spans than dimensional lumber, allowing homebuilders and developers the ability to create large, open spaces, and high ceilings in residential construction.
"The addition of Thorsby, a world-class engineered lumber facility, allows us to better serve our customers as they grow," said Mike Rehwinkel, president - Georgia-Pacific Wood Products LLC. "We're very excited about the future of this important value-added business."
BlueLinx delivers value to its vendors and customers that extends beyond distribution, providing local and national sales representation, inventory management, and logistics optimization. With a network of nationwide distribution centers, BlueLinx serves markets locally and plays an important role in providing customers with the products they need through just-in-time deliveries.
About BlueLinx Holdings Inc.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, BlueLinx Holdings Inc., operating through its wholly owned subsidiary BlueLinx Corporation, is a leading distributor of building products in North America. Employing more than 3,400 people, BlueLinx offers 10,000 products from over 750 suppliers to service approximately 12,000 customers nationwide, including dealers, industrial manufacturers, manufactured housing producers and home improvement retailers. The company operates its distribution business from sales centers in Atlanta and Denver, and its network of more than 70 warehouses. BlueLinx, which is on the Fortune 500 list of the nation's largest companies, is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under symbol BXC. Additional information about BlueLinx can be found on its Web site at www.BlueLinxCo.com.
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Forward-looking Statements
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All of these forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by our management that, although believed by BlueLinx to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of its control, that may cause its business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties may include, among other things: changes in the supply and/or demand for products that we distribute; the activities of competitors; changes in significant operating expenses; changes in the availability of capital; the ability to identify acquisition opportunities and effectively and cost-efficiently integrate acquisitions; general economic and business conditions in the United States; adverse weather patterns or conditions; acts of war or terrorist activities; variations in the performance of the financial markets; and other factors described in the "Risk Factors" section in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, and in its periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. BlueLinx undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
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CONTACT: BlueLinx Holdings Inc.
Jim Storey, Vice President, Investor Relations
(770) 612-7169
