Hardware/Millwork Giants Merging

Fortune Brands, Deerfield, Il., has agreed to acquire through a tax-free merger the home products brands of SBR, Inc., including Dixie-Pacific, Fypon, Simonton Windows, SimEx, and Hy-Lite Products.

No employee cutbacks or facility closings are anticipated as part of the merger, with SBR and each of its subsidiaries to continue running independently, with support from Fortune Brands, with a $4 billion-a-year Home & Hardware business that includes Therma-Tru, MasterBrand Cabinets, Moen, Master Lock. and Waterloo.

The deal includes SBR subsidiaries Dixie-Pacific, Gadsden, Al., manufacturer of fiberglass columns and millwork and operator of wood column producer Hartmann-Sanders; Fypon, with urethane millwork plants in Archbold, Oh., and China; Simonton Windows, Parkersburg, W.V., with seven vinyl window/door plants and a product develoment center; Hy-Lite Products, with acrylic block opera- tions in Beaumont, Ca., and Eatonton, Ga., and SimEx, St. Mary's, W.V., vinyl and PVC foam extruder.

The acquisition, expected to close within the next few months, is subject to regulatory approvals.

Epoch Adds Railing Producer

Tamko Roofing Products subsidiary Epoch Composite Products has acquired certain assets of vinyl railing and fencing producer Tri-Ex Composites, Inc.

The deal includes Tri-Ex's tri-layer technology, said to provide greater stiffness than traditional vinyl systems. "We are excited about the patented technology acquired with this strategic acquisition," said Tamko executive v.p. Tim Whelan. "This technology enables us to provide unique, proprietary product offerings, which will supplement our existing rail offerings.

The new product, said Whelan, "completes a full railing configuration