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Dayton Superior Buys Unitex, Closes UBS Deal

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Dayton Superior Corp. has acquired the assets of Unitex Chemicals, manufacturer of products for industrial concrete construction and repair, and completed its acquisition of bankrupt Universal Building Products.

Unitex Chemicals

Dayton Superior announced the acquisition of Unitex on Monday (Sept. 13). Terms were not disclosed.

Unitex specializes in materials for protection and restoration of concrete used in bridges, highways, airports, marine and other applications. The company’s products include epoxies, cures and sealers, form releases, cementitious materials, and specialty items.

The acquisition of Unitex Chemicals “will strengthen our presence in the repair and restoration market, and support our continued expansion into engineered and specialty products,” said Dayton Superior president and CEO Rick Zimmerman. ”This acquisition also complements our increased focus on highway and bridge projects.”

Dayton Superior said it would keep the Unitex brand name and the company’s Kansas City, MO, headquarters. Unitex owner John Grissinger will continue as president of the business.

Universal Building Products

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware has approved the sale of bankrupt Universal Building Products Inc. to Dayton Superior. UBP, once a $180 million supplier of equipment and accessories to the concrete construction industry, declared bankruptcy on Aug. 4 and announced that its assets would be sold to Dayton Superior.

Universal Building Products was launched in 2006 with the merger of Universal Form Clamp and Don De Cristo Concrete Accessories.

On Sept. 7, Dayton Superior announced that UBP’s assets— “including inventory, receivables, intellectual property, customer lists, machinery, equipment, rental fleet and books and records”—would be transferred to Dayton Superior’s facilities within 60 days.

Dayton Superior has supported former Universal customers, dealers and distributors since Aug. 4 with replacement and substitute products.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to now fully serve Universal customers with the timeliness and quality of products that are Dayton Superior hallmarks,” said Zimmerman. “The consolidation of these assets into Dayton Superior will enhance our national ability to service the concrete construction industry and we are eager to do so.”

Ohio-based Dayton Superior is the largest North American manufacturer and distributor of products used in nonresidential concrete construction. Products include epoxies, liquid densifiers and diamond-polishing materials, polymer floor coatings, sealers and water repellents.