U.S. Industries, Inc. (USI)

U.S. Industries, Inc. was a diversified manufacturing company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol USI. It was created in 1995 when the British conglomerate Hanson PLC grouped 34 of its American businesses into a new company and distributed it to shareholders. The portfolio spanned bath and plumbing products, lighting, lawn and garden tools, hardware and other consumer and industrial goods. Its best-known brands included Jacuzzi whirlpool baths and spas and Zurn plumbing products. The company was originally based in New Jersey.

Through the late 1990s USI acted much like a holding company, buying and selling businesses to reshape its mix. In 2000 it sold its Diversified division to a Citicorp venture capital unit for about $600 million while keeping a minority stake. It then exited lawn and garden and lighting operations, including Ames True Temper and Selkirk, to concentrate on bath and plumbing. These moves were also aimed at reducing debt that had built up during earlier expansion. In 2002 the company moved its headquarters to West Palm Beach, Florida.

By 2003 the remaining business was centered on Jacuzzi, Zurn and Eljer, and management decided the corporate name should reflect its strongest brand. In late April 2003 USI announced plans to rename itself Jacuzzi Brands, Inc., subject to shareholder approval, and to seek a new NYSE symbol. After the change took effect later that year, the stock traded under the ticker JJZ and the USI symbol was retired. The company also consolidated Jacuzzi's California headquarters into its Florida offices.

As Jacuzzi Brands, the company continued to sell non-core assets, including majority stakes in Rexair and Eljer in 2005, and explored ways to raise shareholder value. In 2007 it was acquired by affiliates of the private equity firm Apollo Management, and its shares were delisted from the NYSE. Zurn was subsequently sold to Rexnord, whose water management business later became Zurn Elkay Water Solutions. Old quote pages for USI refer to this predecessor of Jacuzzi Brands.