Pratte, Pulte strike deal on Nevada construction

Jennifer Shubinski

Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004 | 11:10 a.m.

A Phoenix-based company with North Las Vegas operations has entered into a joint venture with Pulte Homes -- the nation's second-largest home builder -- to provide material and labor for all of Pulte's homes in Nevada and Arizona. Pulte builds under the Pulte and Del Webb brands.

Pratte Development Co. Inc., one of the nation's largest wood framing and concrete foundation companies with extensive operations in Nevada and Arizona, entered into a 50/50 joint venture with the Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-based builder to provide material and labor for concrete foundations, concrete flatwork, framing and trim for all Pulte houses built in Nevada and Arizona, Pulte announced today.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Pulte Homes sold 2,261 new homes in Las Vegas through its Pulte and Del Webb brands from January to November 2003, the most recent statistics available, making it one of the largest home builders in the valley, Home Builders Research Inc. reported.

Ron Pratte will serve as chief executive of the venture, to be called Pratte Building Systems. Pulte Homes has named Alan Laing, formerly vice president, customer satisfaction and construction support for Pulte Homes, to lead the integration of the two companies.

"This venture advances Pulte's stated goals to improving its operating and financial performance through the implementation of advanced supply chain strategies," Richard Dugas, Jr., president and chief executive, said in a statement.

The partnership is expected to reduce construction times and related building costs, a spokeswoman for Pulte Homes said.

Initially, the joint venture will focus on delivering material and labor related to concrete foundations and associated flat work, framing, exterior sheathing, roof trusses, exterior and interior doors and trim packages for Pulte's Nevada and Arizona operations. In Phoenix, the venture will also provide material and installation services for underground plumbing.

Pulte expects to deliver between 8,000 and 9,000 homes under its Pulte Homes and Del Webb brands in 2004 across its Las Vegas, Phoenix and Tucson operations.