U.S. Lumber receives equity from Madison Dearborn Partners
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ATLANTA - U.S. Lumber Group signed an agreement for a strategic growth investment from Chicago-based Madison Dearborn Partners private equity firm.
 
U.S. Lumber, with some $500 million in revenue, was formed by the merger in 1998 of Atlantic Trading Company and Bestwood Forest Products.A specialty building products seller with markets cetnered in the Eastern United States, U.S. Lumber's existing management, including CEO Jeff McLendon, will remain in place to execute a strategy of pursuing geographic and product offering expansion.
 
"We are thrilled to be working with MDP," McLendon says. "The resources and expertise they bring to our relationship will accelerate our opportunity for product and geographic growth." 
U.S. Lumber locations
 
U.S. Lumber founder and executive chairman Lawrence Newton says the partnership with Madison Dearborn will finance more acquisitions.
 
"We have successfully green-fielded five of our nine locations, says Newtown. "With MDP on board we now have an even greater opportunity to serve our suppliers and customers with additional geographical expansion through acquisition."  
 
Headquartered in Atlanta, U.S. Lumber serves over 4,000 pro-dealer and retail customers in 23 U.S. states from distribution centers in Atlanta, Greenville, Raleigh, Nashville, Jacksonville, Central Florida, Mobile, Baltimore and Boston. U.S. LUMBER also maintains two strategic re-load facilities to streamline the flow of product from its supply partners to its distribution centers.
 
Richard Copans, a Managing Director at Madison Dearborn Partner' Basic Industries team, said says his firm shares "a strategic vision of where this business can go, and we look forward to utilizing our expertise in growing and scaling businesses." RBC Capital Markets and Dentons advised U.S. Lumber, while Kirkland & Ellis worked with Madison Dearborn.
 

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Bill Esler | ConfSenior Editor

Bill wrote for WoodworkingNetwork.com, FDMC and Closets & Organized Storage magazines. 

Bill's background includes more than 10 years in print manufacturing management, followed by more than 30 years in business reporting on industrial manufacturing in the forest products industries, including printing and packaging at American Printer (Features Editor) and Graphic Arts Monthly (Editor in Chief) magazines; and in secondary wood manufacturing for WoodworkingNetwork.com.

Bill was deeply involved with the launches of the Woodworking Network Leadership Forum, and the 40 Under 40 Awards programs. He currently reports on technology and business trends and develops conference programs.

In addition to his work as a journalist, Bill supports efforts to expand and improve educational opportunities in the manufacturing sectors, including 10 years on the Print & Graphics Scholarship Foundation; six years with the U.S. WoodLinks; and currently on the Woodwork Career Alliance Education Committee. He is also supports the Greater West Town Training Partnership Woodworking Program, which has trained more than 950 adults for industrial wood manufacturing careers. 

Bill volunteers for Foinse Research Station, a biological field station staddling the border of Ireland and Northern Ireland, one of more than 200 members of the Organization of Biological Field Stations.