About LDI - Our History

In 1912, Howard Lacy co-founded U.S. Corrugated-Fibre Box Company in Indianapolis, establishing the foundation for growth that has lasted through four generations.  Howard Lacy II assumed leadership responsibilities for the company in 1952.  Upon his death in 1959, his wife Edna Lacy, helped by their son, Andre,  stepped in to run the business.  In 1972, the company name was changed to Lacy Diversified Industries to better reflect our diversification strategy and national presence.  A third generation took the helm in 1978 when Andre was named president of Lacy Diversified Industries, and a fourth generation stepped forward in 2011 when the board elected J.A. Lacy President and COO of LDI.  Also, Margot Lacy Eccles, granddaughter of the company's co-founder, serves as Vice President of Community and Shareholder Relations.  For the past 30 years, LDI has focused on creating value by acquiring and building value-added wholesale distribution businesses.  LDI’s platform investments are listed below:

U.S. Corrugated-Fibre Box Company (sold)
Indianapolis, Indiana

• Established in 1912
• Grew via organic growth and add-on acquisitions
• National manufacturer of corrugated cardboard boxes
• Capitalized on new transportation regulations that allowed corrugated cardboard containers (boxes) to be used for rail shipments (replacing wooden crates)
• Sold in 1984 – cementing LDI’s "build and hold" strategy with a 72 year hold period

Jessup Door Company (sold)
Dowagiac, Michigan

• Acquired in 1973
• National manufacturer and distributor of high quality wooden doors, molding and trim for premium home construction
• Grew sales to $36 million
• Sold to a strategic buyer in 1996 after 23 years of ownership

Major Video Concepts (sold)
Indianapolis, Indiana

• Acquired in 1987
• National distributor of VHS & DVD movies to independent video rental retailers
• From a regional platform, grew business organically and via several add-on acquisitions to $350 million in sales and operations in all 50 states
• Sold to a strategic buyer in 2000 after 13 years of ownership

Answer Products (sold)
Valencia, California

• Acquired in 1990 from its founder
• International designer and manufacturer of premium branded “Manitou” bicycle suspension components and off-road motorcycle apparel
• Production facilities in California and Taiwan 
• Grew sales organically and via acquisition to over $50 million
• Transferred the motorcycle-related apparel business and brand names to Tucker Rocky (“Answer” off-road gear)
• Sold the company to a private equity firm in 2004 after 14 years of ownership

FinishMaster (sold)
Indianapolis, Indiana

• LDI entered the industry in 1995 by purchasing a $12 million spin-out of an automotive parts company
• Acquired majority control of FinishMaster in 1996
• Largest national distributor of aftermarket automotive paint to collision repair shops in the $2.5 billion U.S. automotive refinishing industry
• In addition to organic growth, completed several significant add-on acquisitions in 1997-1998 which tripled sales and added integration challenges such as three distinct corporate cultures, five different computer systems and numerous sales compensation programs
• Integrated businesses with steady execution to become the largest distributor in the industry with over 1,450 employees, three distribution centers, more than 180 branch locations and a truck fleet that could deliver to most of its metropolitan customers in less than 60 minutes
• Sold to a strategic buyer in 2011 after 15 years of ownership

Tucker Rocky Distributing (own 100%)
Fort Worth, Texas

• Acquired in 1989 as a regional platform
• Grew the business organically and via acquisition into one of the two largest national distributors of powersports apparel, parts and accessories in the U.S
• Primarily sells to motorcycle dealerships in the U.S. but also exports worldwide.
• Acquired or developed many leading proprietary brands of motorcycle and ATV apparel & accessories, including Malcolm Smith Racing (MSR), Firstgear, Answer Racing, River Road and Quadboss 
• Uses seven distribution centers to facilitate next-day ground shipment coast-to-coast. 
• Stocks over 100,000 SKUs 

OIA Global Logistics (own majority control)
Portland, Oregon 

• Acquired in 2010 from its founder
• International transportation firm with particularly strong experience in Asia-U.S. freight forwarding (air & ocean)
• Supply chain management including Asian sourcing and full-service contract warehousing/distribution
• World-class specialty packaging design and sourcing capabilities
• Augmented management team with an industry veteran who has a strong track record of building logistics and transportation companies
• Long standing relationships with multinational Fortune 500 companies and middle market firms
• Oracle^®-based real time global tracking systems