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Berkline, BenchCraft a force

By Larry Thomas -- Furniture Today, December 9, 2001

High Point — Three key Berkline executives, including President Bill Wittenberg, are heading an investor group that that has agreed to buy upholstery producers Berkline and BenchCraft from LifeStyle Furnishings International.

Although many details of the transaction — including the new company's name — haven't been disclosed, it is clear that the Berkline/BenchCraft spinoff will be a powerful force in upholstered furniture.

The two producers, with combined sales of about $450 million this year, have broad product lines covering promotional to upper-medium price points and an extensive retail dealer base. Berkline already claims to be the world's largest producer of reclining furniture, while BenchCraft, a major player in promotional upholstery, recently expanded its offerings to include leather.

"Berkline and BenchCraft are both well-run businesses with strategies in place that respond well to today's changing market dynamics," Wittenberg said. "Combined with the seasoned management teams at each company, we are very excited about the future, and expect little disruption to the business or associate base as result of this change in ownership."

Wittenberg is teaming with Berkline's Dal Eckard, senior vice president of sales and marketing, and Larry Musick, senior vice president of administration and human resources, to buy the two companies. An unnamed financial backer also will have a stake. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter.

LifeStyle's predecessor, the Masco home furnishings division, acquired Berkline in 1994 and BenchCraft in 1989 as part of Universal Furniture.

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