Freedonia Analyst Comments on Armstrong World Industries' Purchase of Steel Ceilings

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Aug 29, 2018, 10:17 ET

CLEVELAND, Aug. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 16th, Armstrong World Industries acquired Steel Ceilings, an Ohio-based manufacturer of standard and custom aluminum and stainless metal ceilings.

"Armstrong is by far the largest supplier of ceiling products in the US," says Matt Hurley, an industry analyst at the Freedonia Group. "This purchase was made as part of the company's strategy of maintaining its industry leadership position through acquisitions."

The transaction also demonstrates Armstrong's commitment to expanding its presence in the fast growing specialty ceiling products market. Earlier this year, Armstrong purchased Plasterform, a Canadian manufacturer of custom cast ceilings, columns, facades, moldings, and walls.

"Both acquisitions also support Armstrong's strategy of focusing on the profitable US and Canadian ceiling markets," says Hurley.

In late 2017, the company announced plans to sell its ceiling operations in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific Rim to the German firm Knauf. The transaction was initially expected to close in mid-2018, but is now expected to be completed by the end of the year because of delays in receiving needed clearances from the European Union, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Knauf is not currently active in the US ceilings market, but it will become a formidable competitor to Armstrong when Knauf completes its earlier announced acquisition of USG, the second largest ceiling products supplier in the US, in a deal expected to close in early 2019.

CertainTeed, another important ceiling supplier in the US, has also been working to boost the size of its operations through acquisitions. Earlier this month, the company purchased Hunter Douglas's North American ceilings business, whose product portfolio includes specialty metal ceilings, felt ceiling and wall systems, and large format acoustical panels.

According to Hurley, "The recent flurry of acquisition activity centered on the US demonstrates the growth opportunities that exist in the country's large ceilings market." Information on the current size and expected growth of the US ceiling products market is available in the Freedonia study, Ceilings Market in the US.

https://www.freedoniagroup.com/Ceilings.html

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SOURCE The Freedonia Group