Masco Corporation is an American manufacturer of products for the
home improvement
The concept of home improvement, home renovation, or remodeling is the process of renovating or making additions to one's home. Home improvement can consist of projects that upgrade an existing home interior (such as electrical and plumbing), ...
and new home
construction
Construction is a general term meaning the art and science to form objects, systems, or organizations,"Construction" def. 1.a. 1.b. and 1.c. ''Oxford English Dictionary'' Second Edition on CD-ROM (v. 4.0) Oxford University Press 2009 and com ...
markets. Comprising more than 20 companies, the Masco conglomerate operates nearly 60 manufacturing facilities in the United States and over 20 in other parts of the world. Since 1969 it trades on the
NYSE
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE, nicknamed "The Big Board") is an American stock exchange in the Financial District, Manhattan, Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City. It is by far the List of stock exchanges, world's largest s ...
.
Under the leadership of Richard Manoogian, the company grew exponentially and subsequently joined the
Fortune 500
The ''Fortune'' 500 is an annual list compiled and published by ''Fortune'' magazine that ranks 500 of the largest United States corporations by total revenue for their respective fiscal years. The list includes publicly held companies, along ...
list of largest U.S. corporations.
[
As of 2007, Masco employed approximately 32,500 employees and has approximately 6,000 shareholders.] The company is currently ranked at 373 on the Fortune 500
The ''Fortune'' 500 is an annual list compiled and published by ''Fortune'' magazine that ranks 500 of the largest United States corporations by total revenue for their respective fiscal years. The list includes publicly held companies, along ...
.[ As of December 31, 2007, Masco had a little over ten billion dollars in assets, and the company's total revenue was $11.77 billion. Total sales for the company in 2009 were 7.8 billion.][Google Finance]
October 27, 2008. Retrieved October 27, 2008 In 2010, the company had worldwide sales of $7.6 billion and approximately 90 manufacturing facilities. The current CEO is Keith J. Allman
Keith may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Keith (given name), includes a list of people and fictional characters
* Keith (surname)
* Keith (singer), American singer James Keefer (born 1949)
* Baron Keith, a line of Scottish barons i ...
.
History
Founding and early history
Initially organized in 1929 as Masco Screw Products Company by Alex Manoogian
Alexander Manoogian ( hy, Ալեք Մանուկեան; June 28, 1901 – July 10, 1996) was an Armenian-American industrial engineer, businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist who spent most of his career in Detroit, Michigan. He was the foun ...
in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at ...
. The company went public on the Detroit Stock Exchange
Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at the ...
in 1936.
Masco Screw Products Company produced machined automotive parts for the Detroit
Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...
automotive companies. The company's first contract came in 1930 with the Hudson Motor Company
The Hudson Motor Car Company made Hudson and other branded automobiles in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., from 1909 until 1954. In 1954, Hudson merged with Nash-Kelvinator to form American Motors Corporation (AMC). The Hudson name was continued through ...
valued at $7,000.00. In 1935, the company's sales reached $100,000 dollars. The following year Masco became a publicly traded company
A public company is a company whose ownership is organized via shares of stock which are intended to be freely traded on a stock exchange or in over-the-counter markets. A public (publicly traded) company can be listed on a stock exchange (l ...
traded on the Detroit Stock Exchange. In 1942, Masco's sales exceeded $1,000,000 dollars.[
Masco Screw Products grew into the Masco Corporation, a large corporate ]holding company
A holding company is a company whose primary business is holding a controlling interest in the securities of other companies. A holding company usually does not produce goods or services itself. Its purpose is to own shares of other companies ...
for numerous acquisitions. Small, family-run businesses were bought out by Masco Corporation with cash and stock in the parent corporation. Between 1997 and 2002, Richard Manoogian, who succeeded his father as chief executive, acquired 42 companies valued at a total of $10 billion.
Masco in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s
In 1952, Manoogian began redesigning the single-handle washerless faucet. The faucet he created was one of the first single-handle hot/cold faucets; it is now known as Delta. Delta's television advertisement
A television advertisement (also called a television commercial, TV commercial, commercial, spot, television spot, TV spot, advert, television advert, TV advert, television ad, TV ad or simply an ad) is a span of television programming produce ...
s were a first for any faucet, and made the product a successful seller. Masco went on to capture the mass market as sales moved from plumbing wholesalers to retail stores. These steps of production and marketing of the Delta faucet began in 1954, and four years later Delta Faucet's annual sales exceeded a million dollars. This was the last year that the company would be referred to as Masco Screw Products Company.
Alex Manoogian, founder, acted as president and chief operating officer
A chief operating officer or chief operations officer, also called a COO, is one of the highest-ranking executive positions in an organization, composing part of the "C-suite". The COO is usually the second-in-command at the firm, especially if t ...
(COO) from 1929 until 1967. In 1958 his son Richard joined the company. Richard, having spent nine years with the company, succeeded his father one year after the company moved to Taylor, Michigan. Alex died on July 10, 1996, the same year that his son Richard passed on his COO role to Ray Kennedy, allowing him to assume the position of chief executive officer
A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...
. In response to Kennedy's death, Alan Barry was appointed as Masco's president and COO on April 8, 2003.
In 1961, Masco Screw Products Company changed its name to Masco Corporation. In 1967, the company moved its corporate headquarters to Taylor, Michigan.[ For the first time, in 1969, Masco was listed on the ]New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE, nicknamed "The Big Board") is an American stock exchange in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed c ...
. In 1975, Masco first appeared on the Fortune 500
The ''Fortune'' 500 is an annual list compiled and published by ''Fortune'' magazine that ranks 500 of the largest United States corporations by total revenue for their respective fiscal years. The list includes publicly held companies, along ...
, and Masco's annual sales exceeded one billion dollars for the first time in 1984. One year later, Masco began manufacturing cabinets
A cabinet is a body of high-ranking state officials, typically consisting of the executive branch's top leaders. Members of a cabinet are usually called cabinet ministers or secretaries. The function of a cabinet varies: in some countrie ...
.
Reorganizing in the 1980s and 1990s
In 1982 Masco's earnings did not grow for the first time in 26 years. The next year however, “In 1983, earnings climbed again for this maker of faucets and diverse product mix of builders’ hardware, because of increased housing starts and a strong do-it-yourself
"Do it yourself" ("DIY") is the method of building, modifying, or repairing things by oneself without the direct aid of professionals or certified experts. Academic research has described DIY as behaviors where "individuals use raw and semi ...
market.”
In 1985, Masco purchased the remaining outstanding stock of Flint & Walling, Inc (after purchasing 30% in 1971 and controlling interest in 1978).
In 1986, Masco started a home furnishings division by buying Henredon for $298 million and Drexel Heritage for $356 million. Other companies added to the division were Lexington Home Brands, Hickorycraft, Marge Carson, La Barge and Marbro in 1987, and fabric company Robert Allen/Ametex in 1988. In 1989, Universal Furniture, BenchCraft and Cal-Style were added in a $480 million deal, as well as Sunbury Textiles. The division added Berkline in 1994 and sold Marge Carson and Cal-Style in 1995.[
Masco reorganized its numerous companies; in 1988, the specialty products divisions of Masco Industries and Masco Corporation combined to form TriMas Corporation. Three years after this merger, TriMas was listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The remainder of Masco Industries became Masco Tech Inc. and in 1993 was listed on the NYSE. At that point in time three different Masco Companies existed: Masco Corp., Masco Tech., and TriMas Corp.
Two years later, Masco entered the services business. TriMas and Masco Tech merged to form one company offering a wide array of products. Masco announced a 2 for 1 ]stock split
A stock split or stock divide increases the number of shares in a company. For example, after a 2-for-1 split, each investor will own double the number of shares, and each share will be worth half as much.
A stock split causes a decrease of mark ...
, which was the ninth time the company had split its shares since 1960 and was the 40th year in a row that its dividends were increased. This merger left two companies, Masco Tech. and Masco Corp.
In 1996, Masco sold most of its Home Furnishings Division to investors for $1.1 billion, creating a new company called LifeStyle Furnishings International.[
In 1999, Masco involved itself in the ]architectural coatings
Architectural coatings or paints are paints and other coatings used to paint the exteriors and interiors of buildings, often calleexterior wall coatingsor external masonry coatings. Clear varnishes and lacquers are generally excluded. Such produ ...
business, and the company's annual sales topped five billion dollars for the first time.
1999–present
In 1999, Masco Corp acquired Arrow Fastener Co., Inc., a hand tool
A hand tool is any tool that is powered by hand rather than a motor. Categories of hand tools include wrenches, pliers, cutters, files, striking tools, struck or hammered tools, screwdrivers, vises, clamps, snips, hacksaws, drills, and kni ...
company expanding its business in the hardware category.
In 2000, Heartland Industrial Partners
Heartland Industrial Partners is a private equity firm focused on industry consolidation and growth capital investments in middle-market industrial companies.
The firm, which is based in Stamford, Connecticut, was founded in 1999 and is no lon ...
, a private equity
In the field of finance, the term private equity (PE) refers to investment funds, usually limited partnerships (LP), which buy and restructure financially weak companies that produce goods and provide services. A private-equity fund is both a ty ...
firm, purchased Masco Tech and changed its name to Metaldyne. Metaldyne is headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan
Plymouth is a city in Wayne County, Michigan, United States. The population was 9,370 at the 2020 census. The city of Plymouth is surrounded by Plymouth Township, but the two are administered autonomously. Plymouth is a western suburb of Metro ...
. Masco also divested Flint & Walling, Inc in 2000 to Zoeller Company.
In 2001, Masco Corp., or simply Masco, entered the windows business and had operating profits beyond a billion dollars. Late in the year, Masco announced it would write down the value of its stake in LifeStyle Furnishings International by $460 million, since its equity
Equity may refer to:
Finance, accounting and ownership
* Equity (finance), ownership of assets that have liabilities attached to them
** Stock, equity based on original contributions of cash or other value to a business
** Home equity, the dif ...
share was only 15 percent, with the rest being debt. LifeStyle, the third largest furniture maker in the United States with $2 billion in sales, had sold Universal Furniture to Lacquer Craft. Then Masco announced Furniture Brands International
Furniture Brands International, Inc., was a Clayton, Missouri-based home furnishings company. Some of the brands it owned in the furniture industry included Broyhill, Altavista, Virginia#Lane Home Furnishings, Lane, Thomasville Furniture Industries ...
would buy Drexel Heritage, Henredon and Maitland-Smith for $275 million, with management of Berkline, BenchCraft and Sunbury taking over those companies. LifeStyle continued to own Lexington, Robert Allen/Ametex and the Beacon Hill showrooms.
In 2003, Masco's annual sales topped ten billion dollars and Masco increased its quarterly dividend for the 47th consecutive year. This ranked them in the top ten publicly owned companies achieving increased annual consecutive dividends.
Throughout his time with the company, Richard Manoogian achieved a net worth of approximately $750 million. He was ranked as high as number five on the Forbes 400
The ''Forbes'' 400 or 400 Richest Americans is a list published by ''Forbes'' magazine of the wealthiest 400 American citizens who own assets in the U.S., ranked by net worth. The 400 was started by Malcolm Forbes in 1982 and the list is publ ...
list of richest manufacturers. The Manoogian family is no longer involved in the management of the company.
In 2015, the company announced it would relocate its headquarters from its facility in Taylor, Michigan to Livonia due to downsizing after spinning-off some divisions. Company president Keith Allman opened the new site on July 31, 2017.
In December 2017, Masco acquired Mercury Plastics of Middlefield, Ohio
Middlefield is a village in Middlefield Township, Geauga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,748 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Cleveland metropolitan area. Middlefield is known for being the center of the world's fourth lar ...
for an undisclosed amount and in January 2018, it acquired Kichler Lighting of Independence, Ohio
Independence is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. It is a suburb of Cleveland. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,133.
Independence was originally called Center and was renamed in 1830.
Geography
Independence is located at .
Ac ...
for $550 million.
Masco segments and businesses
Cabinetry: *Sold to ACProducts (renamed Cabinetworks Group) in 2020
* KraftMaid Cabinetry
* Merillat
* Quality Cabinets
* Cardell Cabinetry
Plumbing products
* Axor
* BrassCraft Manufacturing Company
* Brasstech, Inc.
** Newport Brass
** Ginger
* Bristan
* Caldera Spas
* Delta Faucet Company
** Peerless (economy)
** Delta Faucet (mainstream)
** Brizo (luxury)
** Kraus (sinks)
* Endless Pools
* Hansgrohe SE
* Heritage Bathrooms[(a division of Bristan Group Limited)]
* Hot Spring Spas
* Hüppe
* Masco Canada Ltd.
* Mirolin Industries Corporation
* Watkins Manufacturing Company (Hot Spring Spas/Caldera Spas/Endless Pools)
Decorative architectural products
* Behr Paint Company
* KILZ
* Liberty Hardware
* Kichler Lighting
Other specialty products
* Duraflex
* Milgard Windows & Doors – SOLD to Mi Windows and Doors 2019
References
Sources
*Schoenberger, C. R. (2004, September). Un-Building Masco; lectronic version Forbes, 174(5), 142–144. Retrieved October 17, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 691965051).
''The Wall Street Journal''
October 27, 2008. Retrieved October 27, 2008
*Wotapka, D., Dunham, K. J. (2007, December 19). Masco Suffers Squeeze Once Put on Contractors; Builders Cut Spending, Press for Lower Prices; Surviving the Downturn. ''The Wall Street Journal'' (Eastern Edition), p. B6. Retrieved October 17, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 1400804081).
External links
Masco Corporation
(company website)
{{Authority control
Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange
Manufacturing companies based in Michigan
Companies based in Wayne County, Michigan
Manufacturing companies established in 1929
Private equity portfolio companies
1929 establishments in Michigan
Plymouth Township, Michigan
1960s initial public offerings