UFPI announces structure change to promote growth, effective Jan. 1, 2020
Company to change its name to better reflect its products, industries and capabilities
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Aug. 12, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Universal Forest Products, Inc. (Nasdaq: UFPI) today announced a new organizational structure that is designed to position the Company for accelerated sales and profit growth in the coming years and provide more opportunity for its employees.
As of Jan. 1, 2020, the Company will be known as UFP Industries, Inc. The Company will seek to ratify the name change at its April 22, 2020, shareholder meeting. Under the new structure, also effective Jan. 1, 2020, the Company will be organized around the markets it serves rather than geography. Among other benefits, this will allow for a more specialized and consistent sales approach among all Universal companies, more efficient use of resources and capital, and quicker introduction of new products and services. UFP Industries will continue to trade under the ticker symbol UFPI.
“We have the best team in the industry, and we want to position our people for the greatest success,” said CEO Matthew J. Missad. “The markets are changing quickly, and we need to not only adapt to changes, but to anticipate future changes. As the complexity in our product offering increases, our teams need to be able to focus on products and services that bring more value to our customers. The only way to lead the next era of growth is from the front.”
Missad said that while the name Universal Forest Products is a source of pride for employees, it no longer accurately describes what the company does. "UFP Industries, Inc. is a better fit for what we do and for our new organizational structure," he said. “Our companies serve a diverse group of customers, and our products include many materials, not just wood.”
The company will be organized so that each business segment aligns with the market it currently serves: UFP Retail, UFP Construction and UFP Industrial. These segments will each consist of multiple business units (profit centers) led by entrepreneurial members of the UFP team. Each profit center will have a general manager who will continue to operate his or her facility to enhance customer service, create manufacturing and transportation synergies and improve overall profitability.
Each of these three segments currently exceeds $1 billion in annual revenue. The leaders of these segments will be tasked with doubling sales and profits of their segment over the next 10 years. Those leaders include:
- Allen Peters, who will become the president and COO of UFP Retail,
- Patrick Benton, who will become president of UFP Construction, and
- Scott Worthington, who will become president of UFP Industrial.
During a transition period, Pat Webster will maintain his duties as COO of UFPI and will take on COO responsibility for UFP Construction and UFP Industrial. Jonathan West will become executive vice president of Factory Built Housing in the construction segment. Chad Eastin will become executive vice president of ProWood.
“Our focus is on being the expert solution providers for our customers. This new organization enables us to accomplish that much more efficiently," Missad said. “We believe this is a wonderful opportunity for the companies and people of Universal, and we are excited about the future of UFP Industries. Our teams are up to the challenge, and we know they will continue to excel and to grow their opportunities and the company in new and exciting ways.”
UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC.
Universal Forest Products, Inc. is a holding company whose subsidiaries supply wood, wood composite and other products to three robust markets: retail, construction and industrial. Founded in 1955, the Company is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., with affiliates throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. For more about Universal Forest Products, go to .
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended, that are based on management’s beliefs, assumptions, current expectations, estimates and projections about the markets we serve, the economy and the Company itself. Words like “anticipates,” “believes,” “confident,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “likely,” “plans,” “projects,” “should,” variations of such words, and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. These statements do not guarantee future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, extent, likelihood and degree of occurrence. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect facts, circumstances, events, or assumptions that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made. Actual results could differ materially from those included in such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainty. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements are the following: fluctuations in the price of lumber; adverse or unusual weather conditions; adverse economic conditions in the markets we serve; government regulations, particularly involving environmental and safety regulations; and our ability to make successful business acquisitions. Certain of these risk factors as well as other risk factors and additional information are included in the Company's reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
---------------AT THE COMPANY---------------
Brandon Froysland
Director, Finance
(616) 365-1589
