Generational Group Advises Schuylkill Haven Casket Company and Columbia Caskets Corp. in its sale to Victoriaville & Co.

By Generational Group

07/31/2024

Generational Group, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisory firm for privately held businesses, is pleased to announce the sale of its client, Schuylkill Haven Casket Company and Columbia Caskets Corp., to Victoriaville & Co. The acquisition closed July 9, 2024.

Located in Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania, Haven Line Industries (became Haven Line industries in 1975 with the acquisition of Columbia Caskets Corp.) was established in 1919 and includes both Schuylkill Haven Casket Company and Columbia Caskets Corp. Initially a steel mill, it transformed into a casket manufacturer due to the Spanish Flu epidemic. In 1975, the company expanded to meet the demand for metal caskets. Today, Haven Line Industries distributes a variety of caskets, including wood, veneer, metal, and cloth options. The company remains adaptable to market changes, continuing to serve the funeral industry with quality products and innovation.

Victoriaville & Co. founded in 1907, is a leading manufacturer of hardwood caskets and a major distributor of funeral products in North America. This fourth-generation family business offers a range of products for both burial and cremation, including metal and fabric-covered caskets, urns, memorial jewelry, and keepsakes. Committed to eco-friendly and culturally diverse options, the company also provides specialized caskets, including child-size versions. With operations in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K., Victoriaville & Co. continues to innovate and uphold quality in the funeral industry.

Charles-Olivier Dumont, Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of Victoriaville & Co. stated, “This transaction supports Victoriaville’s continued strategy to grow its business geographically and through complementary product and service offerings that benefit funeral professionals and the families they serve. Victoriaville and Haven Line Industries share similar business values with a driving focus on the needs of funeral professionals. This commitment towards solutions for the challenges faced by their customers will continue to be the compass for the combined enterprises.”

Haven Line Industries President and CEO, Tina D. Houck, added, “Haven Line Industries has a proud heritage dating back to 1919. Both companies have earned a reputation for value and service and this transaction will result in a great blending of two family-operated iconic brands. I am really excited about the possibilities this combination will create for our customers and for our employees.”

Ray Palombi, a Generational Group Affiliate added, “This partnership allows Victoriaville & Co to build on their formidable industry position, while the remarkable legacy of Haven Line Industries enters a new chapter.”

Generational Group Executive Managing Director of M&A – Eastern Region, David Fergusson and his team, led by Generational Group Affiliate, Raymond Palombi, with the support of Managing Director, M&A, Corey Painter, closed the deal. Senior Managing Director, David Pickard, established the initial relationship with Schuylkill Haven Casket Company and Columbia Caskets Corp.