LAMAR, MO – Financially troubled O'Sullivan Industries, one of the best-known names in ready-to-assemble furniture, announced it will close its 1-million-square-foot plant, a move that will put 735 people out of work.

According to the Toledo Blade, Sauder Woodworking Co. of Archbold, OH, finalized a deal last week to purchase certain assets of O'Sullivan, including O’Sullivan brands, intellectual property, patents and more. Included is Coleman garage products distributed through 1,400 Lowe's stores. The deal did not include any buildings or machinery.

O'Sullivan was founded in 1954 and has operated in Lamar since 1965. At its height, the company employed more than 2,300 people and operated three RTA furniture manufacturing plants, including facilities in South Boston, VA, and Cedar City, UT. The Cedar City plant was closed prior to the company filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2005. The South Boston plant was closed toward the end of 2006.

Kevin Sauder, president and chief executive of Sauder, told the Blade that his company will immediately begin hiring up to 200 full-time and part-time workers at its Archbold plant. The facility currently employs 2,550 people.

Production of some of the O'Sullivan products purchased by Sauder will continue to be made in Lamar for about four months until Sauder's Archbold plant is ramped up to take on the added production.