Standard Bent Glass Owner Acquires Certain Business Assets of Coastal Glass Distributors
October 16, 2009

D. Michael Hartley, owner of Standard Bent Glass, Global Security Glazing and Lexgard Laminates, has acquired certain business assets of Coastal Glass Distributors in Charleston, S.C. The purchase has no financial ties to Hartley's other companies, though he has granted a partial ownership to his key managers.

The acquisition includes receivables, machinery and equipment, the truck fleet, customer list and the name Coastal Glass Distributors. The acquisition did not include the Jacksonville, Fla., location.

Hartley told USGNN.com™ he decided to pursue the purchase because he saw it as a nice complement to his company's other businesses.

"[The businesses] did not conflict and there is a lot of common territory where I think we can do a better job," says Hartley. "I expect there will also be common sales agents."

He continues, "Coastal did a good job of servicing the Southeast and had a good name in the industry. Unfortunately, the economic times caused its demise. Now, we feel we can turn it around and bring it back to where it was," says Hartley, who adds that they are geared to resume operations on Monday, October 19.

With business resuming at the plant in Charleston, it will also mean that some of the company's former employees will be back to work.

"Those employees we are bringing back are ones who have been with Coastal at least four years," says Trent Hartley, sales and marketing manager, who also spent nine years in that role at Coastal. Jack Hoey, who had served as president of Coastal, will not be returning.

As far as the company's production capabilities, the Hartleys say they will remain as they have been.

"We're trying to re-establish the good service Coastal was known for in the past," says Trent Hartley. "We are planning to [return the company to] what it was three or four years ago, but it will take time. We'd like to get back to servicing the exact routes it did then, covering North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Northern Florida."

CLICK HERE for related story.

Need more info and analysis about the issues?
CLICK HERE to subscribe to USGlass magazine.