Building Industry Partners Forms New Regional LBM Platform, Southeast LBM Interests in Partnership With Pro Dealer Industry Veteran Roger Farmer

Building Industry Partners LLC, the leading building industry-focused private equity investment company, has established Southeast LBM Interests, a new regional lumber and building materials pro dealer organization, in collaboration with pro dealer industry veteran Roger Farmer. BIP and Mr. Farmer founded southeast LBM to establish a best-in-class, people-first regional LBM pro dealer organization in the southeast United States, beginning with acquiring the assets of the Warner Robins family of businesses: Warner Robins Building Supply Co., Henson Building Materials, and Mountain Building Supply.

Warner Robins Supply, founded in 1947, is a long-standing independent, eight-location LBM pro dealer serving local, regional, and national builders and contractors, as well as do-it-yourself (“DIY”) customers in Warner Robins, Georgia, and across seven rural markets in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The company has a 70-year history of integrity and service, produces more than $80 million in annual sales, and employs more than 190 people.

The transaction addressed the Bayer family’s business succession planning requirements. Mark Bayer, who has led Warner Robins Supply for more than 40 years, will continue to serve as an adviser to Southeast LBM and chairman of Warner Robins Supply after the acquisition. Mr. Farmer will be President of the Southeast LBM platform and will replace Mr. Bayer as President of Warner Robins Supply. The companies will keep their long-standing brand identities in the market.

Roger Farmer joins Southeast LBM as President and will oversee the company’s future expansion in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond. For over 25 years, Mr. Farmer has managed and developed market-leading LBM companies throughout the United States. He was most recently Executive Vice President of Swift Supply, a sixth-generation family-owned pro dealer. He oversaw significant expansion across ten sites in Alabama and Florida, including green fielding millwork, component, and showroom facilities. In addition, Mr. Farmer has worked with pro dealers 84 Lumber, Hope Lumber, and American Building Supply.

BIP Operating Partner Nick Massengill, a Georgia native and LBM veteran in the greater Atlanta area, will be part of the BIP Investment Team assisting Southeast LBM’s success. Nick formerly served as President of Robert Bowden Inc., where he led the company to exceptional performance and equity value creation by using people-first principles. He converted the company to employee ownership in 2001 and oversaw its sale to BMC in 2015.

Walt Kurek and Mike Collins of Building Industry Advisors, a building products-focused investment banking boutique founded in 2012, presented the Warner Robins family of companies to BIP.

Holland & Knight LLP and Fifth Third Bank were also partners in this venture. In addition, intrinsic LLC, CBIZ Insurance Services, Inc., and DSG Benefits Group all played important roles.

About Building Industry Partners
Building Industry Partners is the leading private equity investment company focusing on the construction industry in the United States. BIP, founded in 2008 by Matt Ogden, is based in Boston and has partners throughout the United States. Matt and Partners Pat Mascia, Pete Robinson, and Stu Kliman lead the firm, supported by the company’s Operating Partners. BIP invests its Partners’ capital and the capital of a number of strategic, like-minded investors, including business leaders and family offices connected with the United States building industry.