This month in TalkFloor.com you’ll find a pretty wide variety of guests and subjects. One in particular you may want to check out looks at some of the acquisitions that have taken place in the industry over the several months. Keith Hughes, director in equity research at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, looks at the current environment for acquisitions in general and gives his thoughts on those yet to come, including potential combinations of hard and soft surface companies, more international acquisitions, and the possibility for increased M&A due to slim economic times.
At the top of the list of industry buyouts discussed were the purchases of both Marazzi and Pergo by Mohawk. Hughes breaks down the implication each of these acquisitions will likely have on Mohawk’s business, both in the U.S. and globally. He discusses the Marazzi acquisition – a $1.5 billion purchase in a combination of cash and equity – and looks specifically at Marazzi’s leadership position in technology and in the U.S., Russian and European markets, a combination that further cements Mohawk’s position in the ceramic arena on a global basis.