Houston's private investment firm, Main Street Ventures II, has managed to put together nine independent companies, which build steel structures, to form Fabrication Technology Corp. - or just "FabTech," -- with operations in six states and headquarters in Houston. Companies comprising FabTech include: - Lyndon Steel Group, including Lyndon Steel Co. and Winston Steel & Stair Co. of Winston-Salem, NC and Kinston Steel Co. of Kinston, NC,- Steel Fabricators LLC of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, - Presco Steel Group, including Presco Steel Inc. and Presco Steel Erectors Inc. of Gainesville, GA- Steel Inc. of Scottdale, GA- Wylie Steel Fabricators Inc. of Brentwood, TN- C&I Steel Inc. of Hyannis, MA- Superior Steel Inc. of Knoxville, TN- Fabco Metal Products Inc. of Daytona Beach, FL- Myers & Co., Architectural Metals of Basalt, CO

All nine companies erect steel skeletons for commercial and industrial buildings, including warehouses and plants, according to Main Street VP and CFO Todd Reppert. Former shareholders of each of the FabTech founding companies will receive a majority of their merger consideration in the form of FabTech stock. "The merger allows member firms to take advantage of their larger capacity, share jobs and pursue customers," Reppert told GlobeSt.com.

FabTech figures to remain private for the time being. "An IPO is not in the immediate plans," Reppert says. "The public markets aren't particularly good now, and FabTech doesn't need the financing." He explains Main Street has been able "to consummate the merger transactions with a capital structure that positions the company for continued growth and for enhancing shareholder value."