Harbour Group Acquires JASCO Chemical Corp.

    ST. LOUIS, July 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Fluid Enterprises, a subsidiary of
 Harbour Group, has acquired JASCO Chemical Corporation, a manufacturer of
 branded paint removers and surface preparation products, Sam Fox, Harbour
 Group's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, announced today. Terms of the
 transaction were not disclosed.
     Founded in 1947, JASCO Chemical Corp. is based in Santa Ana, Cal. The
 company manufactures branded paint removers and surface preparation products,
 including paint removers and strippers, wood refinishers and preservatives,
 adhesive removers, masonry and concrete preparation products and sealers. The
 company sells these products through leading retailers, including home
 centers, mass merchandisers, hardware, and specialty stores.
     Harbour's Fluid Enterprises group is a leading supplier of specialty
 consumer and contractor products, including specialty household cleaning
 products, texture repair products, and kitchen, bath and plumbing accessories.
 The companies in the group sell their products to professional painters,
 decorators and consumers through specialty paint stores, home centers, mass
 merchandisers and hardware stores. The companies in the group are Homax
 Products; Magic American; The Gonzo Corporation; Krusin International; Tile
 Care Products; Rhodes American Products; and now, JASCO.
     The acquisition will allow Fluid Enterprises to broaden its product
 offering of leading brands for the DIY (do-it-yourself) and professional
 markets, Mr. Fox said. He commented, "JASCO has a very strong brand name in
 its market and rounds out our product offering to the professional and DIY
 paint market."
     Max Anthony, President of JASCO, said the acquisition by Harbour Group
 will enable the company to continue to pursue its growth strategy. "This is a
 great opportunity for JASCO and Fluid Enterprises," he said. "JASCO has some
 of the most recognized products in its market sector. Harbour Group recognized
 that the combination of Fluid's excellent distribution network and JASCO's
 product offerings presented real opportunity for growth."
     Harbour Group is a privately owned company based in St. Louis, Mo. Harbour
 Group and its related companies are engaged in the manufacture and
 distribution of industrial products, including high pressure cleaning
 equipment, auxiliary plastic processing equipment, automotive accessories,
 hearth and chimney products, textile machinery, pre-engineered building
 components, heat exchange equipment, automotive enthusiast products,
 entertainment products and products used by the home maintenance industry.
 
 

SOURCE  Harbour Group