TULSA, Oklahoma — Fabricut Inc. has purchased the Stroheim brand, the 145-year-old U.S. editor, after six months of negotiations with JAB, the powerhouse European editor based in Bielefeld, Germany.

“We expect to significantly increase our sales in the high end market with this purchase,” said David Finer, CEO of Fabricut. He would not say anything about the price he paid for Stroheim or the sales he expected from it. He only said that all Stroheim inventory would be shipped to Fabricut's Tulsa warehouse and all lines would continue under the Fabricut ownership.

Ralph Anstoetz, chairman of JAB USA, Inc. and David Finer CEO, Fabricut, Inc. signed a joint announcement detailing the acquisition: “We are pleased to announce an agreement between JAB and Fabricut for Fabricut’s purchase of the Stroheim brand from JAB,” the letter dated May 1 said. “Fabricut has been looking for a partner to increase its profile in its high-end brands while JAB wanted to focus on its home-based European brands and increase its footprint for its North American brands. The agreement by JAB to sell its Stroheim brand to Fabricut accomplishes both objectives, and Fabricut and JAB have formed a strategic alliance to help each other in these respective endeavors.”

The letter said the deal will be completed by mid-May, 2010 and will apply only to Stroheim’s fabric, trimmings and wallpaper. Stroheim decorative hardware will continue to be serviced by JAB.

Stroheim will join Fabricut’s other high-end brands, namely S. Harris and Vervain. In addition, the wallcovering lines of Stroheim will continue and represent a new product category for Fabricut.

Finer referred further questions to Nina Butkin, vice president of design for Fabricut. Butkin has added duties as vice president of design for Stroheim. David Klaristenfeld, vice president, has added sales responsibilities for Stroheim.

The purchase includes the brand and inventory but JAB will continue to use its showrooms and New York offices as a way of furthering its European brand sales in the USA including JAB, Chivasso, Sahco Hesslein and a new brand called Soleil Blue jointly developed with the Wellman design team, another editor recently purchased by JAB.

JAB USA will service the U.S. as well as Canada from Long Island City. “Our Product offerings will be at least tripled,” said Chris-Jacob Schminnes, JAB president. JAB said it has been looking for a strategic alliance since 2009 in order to increase its footprint in the US. At the same time, Fabricut said it was analyzing its high-end business.

“Both David Finer and myself came quickly to the conclusion that an alliance between our two companies would be beneficial for both so we have partnered together,” Schminnes concluded.