New TVBS Co-owner Looks To Grow Abroad

Set on expanding the business internationally, Regal Trust has acquired a 75Vo stake in Tualatin Valley Builders Supply, Lake Oswego, Or., including buying out the Employee Stock Ownership Plan.

Regal Trust's administrator, international financier Donald R. Moody, also was appointed to TVBS's board of directors.

"This strategic alliance partnership with Regal Trust will provide both a substantial infusion of capital into TVBS and a greater access into the international building materials business and timber resources," said president and ceo Mike Hillier, who retains 25Vo of TVBS. "With the Northwest housing market projected to have little or flat growth the next couple of years, we must look to foreign markets to help increase our sales."

Vancouver, Wa.-based TVBS Worldwide, launched in 1993 primarily to serve Japan and Korea, has suffered since the Asian market began declining three years ago.

Moody has personally advised or guided the investment of more than

$25 billion of contract value worldwide, and has personal business relationships with government leaders and executives of private companies in more than 30 countries including China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Argentina. Already, TVBS is working on shipping product for two international government financed housing projects.

Founded in 1941, TVBS operates in Oregon, Washington, California and Japan with l0 retail yards, truss plants, contractor yards, a wall systems plant and wholesaler Pan Pacific Forest Products.

TruServ LBM Sale Official

Builder Marts of America has completed its acquisition of TruServ's LBM division, creating the nation's largest Lumber & Building Materials group with combined 2000 sales of over $2 billion.

LBM sales operations in Butler, Pa., and Springfield, Or., will continue to service TruServ retailers. Marketing, procurement and other support functions will be handled out of BMA's Greenville, S.C., headquarters.

Wirh 225 associates and nine sales offices across the U.S., BMA now offers lumber, building materials, millwork, hardlines and business services to over 4,500, primarily pro-oriented customers.

British Parent Sells CSI

Laporte plc has sold several divisions, including wood preserving chemical producer Chemical Specialties Inc., Charlotte, N.C., to private investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., L.P.

The acquired businesses-timber treatment (CSI), pigments, additives, plastics compounding, water technology and electronics-will retain their names and management teams as divisions of newly formed Rockwood Specialties Inc., Princeton, N.J. Michael J. Kenny, formerly a divisional chairman and director of Laporte, will serve as president.

"We will remain CSI," said CSI's Dave Fowley. "We've just gone from being a part of a publicly traded British company to being part of a privately held U.S. company."

There are a lot of good reasons for carrying L-P Solid Start' products: wide variety, a limited lifetime warranty and the fact that they build great homes.

Full line now available in stock:

. LPl" 20 and 32 series l-joists (solid sawn flanged)

. CTR'" 150 and 250 series l-joists (Gang-Lam' LVL flanged) o LPI 36 and 56 series l-joists (Gang-Lam LVL flanged)

. Gang-Lam 2650 Fb and 2950 Fb beams in standard and billet thicknesses ('l-314" to 7" thick)

. Solid Start rim board

For more information, including a copy of our warranty, contact Huff Lumber.