ELGIN, Texas, Sept. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Trikeenan Tileworks is a manufacturer of art tile, ceramic tile and glazed thin-brick with plants in New Hampshire and New York. Elgin Butler is an established and successful manufacturer of structural tile based in Austin, Texas. Also, Elgin Butler is the owner of McIntyre Tile, a premier art-tile manufacturer based in California. After a full year of protection from its creditors under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, Trikeenan will successfully emerge from Bankruptcy Court protection and continue to operate, now as a wholly owned subsidiary of Elgin Butler Company.

Elgin Butler has committed to making a substantial investment in Trikeenan, to retaining as many of the existing employees that are willing to work in the upgraded New York facility, and to ultimately grow the business and establish a strong domestic manufacturer of ceramic tile and thin brick in Hornell, New York. Elgin Butler will be purchasing major capital equipment, engaging major marketing and sales support resources, and is committed to supporting all of the existing Trikeenan customers in the marketplace.

On August 30, 2010, after the landlord of Trikeenan’s New York production facility filed an action to evict Trikeenan from the premises for non-payment of rent, the Company filed for protection from its creditors rather than face liquidation of that facility and the loss of a majority of its production capacity. Both prior to and following the bankruptcy filing by Trikeenan, Elgin Butler attempted to work with the owners of Trikeenan to reorganize the company. Elgin Butler’s proposals included offers of continuing employment to Trikeenan’s founders. Also, Elgin Butler proposed that Trikeenan’s founders retain ownership of the New Hampshire operations of the Company along with its assets and brands. All of these offers were rejected by Trikeenan’s founders.

After the rejection of Elgin Butler‘s offers, both Elgin Butler and Trikeenan’s existing owners submitted competing Plans of Reorganization for Trikeenan. Both Plans provided for the consolidation of Trikeenan’s New Hampshire operations into Trikeenan’s operations in Hornell, New York. The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Hampshire, in a written opinion, concluded that the Plan of Reorganization submitted by Trikeenan’s existing owners could not proceed to confirmation because that Plan lacked sufficient new investment in Trikeenan. Without the means to invest in the Company or to fund the consolidation of the Company’s operations in order to reduce ongoing expenses, it is likely that Trikeenan would eventually have been liquidated by its secured creditors. Instead, Trikeenan will continue in business because Elgin Butler’s Plan, which includes substantial new investment in the Company, was approved by the Bankruptcy Court on August 30.

Elgin Butler welcomes Trikeenan Tileworks, its employees, vendors and customers into the successful Elgin Butler family of ceramic manufacturing and distribution businesses.

About Elgin Butler Company

Founded in 1873, Elgin Butler Company (www.elginbutler.com) is one of the oldest suppliers of quality architectural products in the country. Elgin Butler manufactures and distributes several product lines, including structural glazed brick and tile; architectural trim units; decorative tile; porcelain mosaics; and natural stone.

SOURCE Elgin Butler