QUEBEC CITY, CANADA -- In a friendly acquisition, Polycor of Quebec City, Canada, has purchased Swenson Granite, based in Concord, NH, and Rock of Ages of Barre, VT. The business deal was finalized on Thursday, September 15, 2016.

"We want to own the future," said Patrick Perus, president of Polycor. "We want to build it together. We are building a very strong company, and this company can take the lead for the rest of the industry to help the world to fall in love again with natural stone."

Rock of Ages and Swenson join a family of brands known for world renowned North American natural stone. Parent company Polycor operates quarries both in the U.S. and Canada. Both companies will continue to operate under their own names, with international block sales shifted to the Polycor brand.

"People don't see the stone industry as creative and innovative," he said. "What we like to do at Polycor is surprise people -- be innovative, be creative, be the opposite of what people think about the stone industry."

As of this time, Polycor plans to make minimal changes to the companies, with Bob Pope remaining president of Swenson Granite and Rock of Ages, but now reporting to Perus. Donald LaBonte and Scott Herrick will continue to report to Pope, and the company's corporate headquarters will now be Quebec City.