(BRK.A), (BRK.B)
Berkshire Hathaway’s Clayton Homes has acquired Oakwood Homes, Colorado’s largest privately held homebuilder and community developer, and the approximately 18,000 lots it owns and controls. The company is the fourth site builder that Clayton has acquired since 2015, and it currently owns homebuilding companies in Missouri, Tennessee and Georgia.
The deal closed on July 3, 2017.
“Oakwood Homes has an impressive history of homebuilding innovation, and practices a relentless commitment to quality and service for its customer base,” said Keith Holdbrooks, president of Clayton home building group. “Oakwood’s self-sustaining operating model, company culture and core values align well with Clayton’s, which is paramount when we acquire a company. We look forward to working together with Oakwood to improve the homebuyer experience while providing greater cost-saving opportunities for homebuyers.”
Founded in 1991 by CEO Pat Hamill, Oakwood Homes builds modern, distinct communities throughout Colorado and Utah that are recognized for their innovative designs, energy efficient homes and highly customizable building processes. The company sold 1,200 homes in 2016 alone, which represents a 20 percent increase from 2015. Oakwood Homes differentiates itself through its commitment to both customer and team-member experiences.
Clayton entered the site-built industry in 2015 through its Clayton Properties division in order to provide industry-leading homebuilding solutions and improve the experience of modern-day homebuyers. Since 2015, Clayton has increased its homebuilder portfolio by acquiring like-minded, innovative companies in strong growth markets, such as Summit Homes in Kansas City, Mo., Goodall Homes in Gallatin, Tenn., and Chafin Communities in Atlanta, Ga.
“After more than two decades of building beautifully functional new homes in Colorado and Utah as a privately held company, we are excited to join forces with Clayton,” said Pat Hamill. “This partnership is part of our strategic vision to continue our steady growth and to provide a very high standard of customer service for our loyal consumers, all while keeping our existing leadership team.”
In 2016, Clayton built more than 42,000 homes. Site built homes are an increasing focus as they have a higher price point than Clayton’s mobile home business.
© 2017 David Mazor
Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.