MRC files statement for an IPO
Houston — MRC Global Inc., formerly McJunkin Red Man Holding Corporation, announced on January 12 that it has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission related to a proposed initial public offering of its common stock. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been determined.
An application will be made to list the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “MRC.”
A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the SEC, but has not yet become effective. When available, a prospectus relating to the offering can be obtained from MRC, 2 Houston Center, 909 Fannin, Suite 3100, Houston, Texas 77010, attention: Will James.
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, MRC is one of the largest global distributors of PVF and related products and services to the energy industry, and supplies these products and services across each of the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors.
Bootz distribution center opens in Evansville
Evansville, Ind. —The latest addition to Bootz Industries is the 100,000+ square foot distribution center at 1600 First Avenue, Evansville, IN 47710. This recent acquisition received the 2011 Community Improvement of the Year award for its dedication to Keep Evansville Beautiful.
The new DC provides the space and shipping infrastructure to meet the demand of the porcelain-on-steel market.
Communication between sales and the shipping department is essential; all orders and delivery dates are discussed during a daily face-to-face meeting at the facility. The Bootz DC is held at a higher standard to routinely maintain their 100% fill rate (backorders are non-existent), expediting orders daily upon request. Products are scheduled to arrive on the customer’s designated delivery date whether it is 48 hours or later.
The DC is only part of an on-going re-investment and growth program for the future of Bootz Industries. Teamwork is paramount to their success; all management and associates work together in an effort to provide the highest level of customer satisfaction.
Crane Supply opens new location
Toronto — On December 8, Crane Supply held an official celebration of its new supply house location (for the GTA and Canadian headquarters) at 141 Royal Group Crescent, Vaughan, Ont.
This new 122,000-square-foot facility now provides 100% indoor pipe storage (which makes it easier to maintain “heat number” legibility on its pipe as required by the TSSA). There is indoor parking for some of its newly expanded delivery fleet that enables the operation to make faster and more frequent deliveries — a critical service requirement for most projects. As it is located at the crossroads of Highway #427 and #7, the location promotes easy access for customers and employees. The size of the warehouse enables Crane Supply to more effectively store inventory and to improve its already-impressive fill rates.
More than 70 guests including contractors, vendors and media were invited to participate in the opening celebration, which featured a facility tour and refreshments. Among the customers who honored Crane with their presence were representatives from well-known mechanical contracting firms such as Modern Niagara, Comstock, Black & McDonald and George A. Kelson. Some of the vendors who attended were Victaulic, Ipex, Bibby-Ste-Croix and Taylor Pipe Supports.
Both inside and outside sales staff led facility tours showcasing their all-indoor 50,000 square feet of pipe storage. Tom Frazer, Crane Supply’s president, took this opportunity to re-emphasize the importance of indoor storage of steel pipe for numerous reasons, such as clean, rust-free pipe and, most importantly, legible heat numbers for corresponding mill test reports, which is a major contractor requirement.
The new building was designed to take into account all facets of customer service. Increased shelf space allows better organization and placement of products, speeding up picking and shipping time. The open-concept customer service area promotes better and immediate communication among inside sales reps. An entire wall was dedicated to convey the customer orientation that Crane Supply prides itself on, and photos documenting the many projects, jobsites and customer contacts were prominently displayed.
First Supply participates in Kohler sales challenge
Madison, Wis. — First Supply recently teamed up with Kohler for their Flipside sales challenge. Employees at all 11 Gerhards Showrooms of First Supply competed against each other for the most Flipside sales. Top prize included the winner’s own Flipside.
Shawna Kaltenberg of Gerhards in Madison won the top honor by selling the most Flipsides.
“It was so much fun being able to help customers coming into the showroom with the intent to just buy a showerhead and to have them leave with the Kohler Flipside,” she said. “Customers didn’t really know how many choices they had until they saw all of our displays. Once they saw how unique and stylish the Flipside was, it was easy to sell.”
Northeastern Supply renews NASCAR sponsorship deal
Baltimore — Northeastern Supply will return to team sponsorship in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for the 19th consecutive year in 2012 as an associate sponsor with Turner Motorsports for the fourth straight season and in support of the #31 Brandt team and driver Justin Allgaier.
“The associate support we have given so many NASCAR teams in the Nationwide Division over the years has been an interesting journey for our company and, because of how they do business and treat their sponsors, it was an easy decision for us to remain with Turner Motorsports for another season,” said Steve Cook, Northeastern Supply president and CEO. “We enjoyed three good seasons backing the efforts of the Great Clips team and drivers Jason Leffler and Kasey Kahne. Now we’ve decided to move over to Justin Allgaier and the #31 Brandt Chevrolet team in 2012 in hopes of helping them challenge for the championship.”
Allgaier is the 25-year-old Riverton, Ill., driver who, in his last two Nationwide Series campaigns, has posted two victories and finished fourth and third, respectively, in the 2010 and 2011 driver championship competition. Allgaier’s 2010 effort came while driving a Dodge for Penske Racing before moving over to a Chevrolet at Turner Motorsports last season, in which he recorded six top-five and 17 top-10 finishes in beating everyone in points except for champ Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and runner-up Elliott Sadler.
Allgaier will be the lone Turner Motorsports driver to carry the Northeastern Supply flag in 2012 that will feature the hard-charging chauffeur in various Northeastern Supply promotions conducted throughout the season. Heading these promotions will be a variety of customer-driven events to be held in conjunction with each of the two NASCAR race weekends at the Dover (Del.) International Speedway, Northeastern Supply’s “home” race track.
Allgaier is the latest top name to be added to the impressive list of drivers who have been sponsored by Northeastern Supply over the years. That list includes Leffler, Kahne, Yeley, Mike and Kenny Wallace, Jason Keller, Phil Parsons, Sterling Marlin, Hank Parker Jr. and Kevin Lepage.