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February 2005

Carter Lumber Acquires Kight Home Center

The continued growth of the Carter Lumber Company, which includes 240 stores throughout 10 states, took another step forward today with Carter Lumber’s announcement that it has acquired Kight Home Center, a four-lumberyard chain plus a Kitchen Interiors design center and Kight Custom Millwork & Laminate facility. Kight Home Center is headquartered in Evansville, Indiana.

Neil Sackett, President & CEO of Carter Lumber, stated, “When my grandfather started this business in 1932, it was his goal to grow the business by building true partnerships with all employees and customers. With this partnership of families between Kight Home Center and Carter Lumber, I believe we are continuing this tradition.”

“Kight Home Center is a local family-owned building material supplier operated by the Bernhardt family since 1957. Our acquisition today by Carter Lumber will keep in place the family management and rich tradition that my father started nearly 50 years ago. With this in mind, we will continue to operate under the Kight Home Center name and be a home to our employees and a business partner to our many customers,” Tom Bernhardt, Vice President, Kight Home Center said.

Kight Home Center will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Carter Lumber family of companies, which includes 240 Carter Lumber stores, Carter-Jones Lumber – the original store, and Holmes Lumber, a three-lumberyard chain headquartered in Millersburg, Ohio, that was acquired in 2004.

In Indiana, Kight Home Center locations are at 5521 Boonville Highway, Evansville; Highway 62 at 231, Rockport; and 1109 Highway 662 West, Newburgh. The Kentucky location is at 2301 Windhaven Drive, Owensboro. Kitchen Interiors, at 5545 E. Morgan Ave., and Kight Custom Millwork & Laminate, at 2501 S. Kentucky Ave., are both in Evansville.

“At Carter Lumber, we are always looking at ways to increase our market share with contractors. With the addition of Kight Home Center’s $46 million business, this acquisition fits perfectly with our growth strategy. In addition, this partnership ensures the hometown culture and continued growth of Kight,” Jeff Donley, Chief Operating Officer, Carter Lumber said.

Brad Hershberger – Vice President Operations for Kight Home Center, stated that “ensuring the well-being of our employees and customers has been a longstanding tradition at Kight. With this new partnership, I am looking forward to delivering these same values for many years to come.”

Carter Lumber and Kight Home Center have been family-run businesses for generations, and during this time strong customer service has been the hallmark of their success. Mr. Sackett added, “As a major supplier to contractors for Evansville and the surrounding communities, Kight’s hometown image is something we look forward to continuing as we bring them into the Carter Lumber family.”

“With a partnership of two families and our commitment to service, we look forward to achieving our goals and are excited about this opportunity,” Kent Bernhardt, President Kight Home Center said.


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Carter Lumber is one of the nation’s top building materials retailers with over 240 stores in ten states and employs more than 3,500 people. Carter Lumber stores offer customers top quality grade-stamped lumber and carry brand names in roofing, siding, windows & doors, insulation, plumbing, heating, and electric products from leading manufacturers. Additionally, each location provides design capabilities in new home, pole barn, backyard barn, garage, deck and kitchen projects. Established in 1932, Carter Lumber maintains its headquarters in Kent, Ohio.