May MDM M&A Summary: New Highest Level of Distributor Deal Activity

May ended as the most active month of the year for distributor deals, based on the volume of MDM-covered M&A news.

During the month, we published news about 40 different transactions – pending or completed – involving at least one distributor. That’s the highest since at least early 2024, when MDM began counting distributor deals separately from total mergers and acquisitions, which also includes manufacturers, associations and service providers. This was by far the most active month for distributor mergers and acquisitions in 2024 (January 29).

In terms of distribution agreements, May broke the plateau of 24-23-24 transactions observed in February-March-April.

Overall, MDM published a total of 44 M&A news stories in May 2024.

The month was highlighted by the fact that Ferguson completed four of May’s 40 deals – announced simultaneously on May 23. Sonepar and Imperial Dade each closed three deals, while GMS and White Cap closed two deals each.

Below you’ll find a summary of May’s M&A news, mostly in reverse chronological order and broken down by distributors and manufacturers.

Distributors (40)

Industrial distributor based in San Jose, California Valin company. took over Irvine, California Dynamic solutions to strengthen its portfolio of motion control and automation products.

Distributor of specialized construction products AGM (Tucker, GA) acquired a Pomona, California-based wallboard and structural steel distributor Howard & Sons Building Materials.

Distributor of MRO and automotive OEM parts Lawson Products acquired S&S Automotive Inc., an automotive and industrial parts supplier based in Woodridge, Illinois, about 30 miles south of Lawson’s headquarters in Chicago.

Distributor of packaging solutions TricorBraun will expand its presence in Australia and New Zealand and packaging capabilities through the acquisition of two specialty packaging distributors: UniquePack AND Alpasa products.

Zelienople, a Pennsylvania-based industrial energy and fluid distributor Drive and control companies (MCE) has made its 11th acquisition since the beginning of 2023, adding: General Machinery Company in Birmingham, AL.

Imperial DadaThe Canadian branch gained greater scale thanks to the company acquisition Wolfpack packagingdistributor of industrial and cleaning products throughout Ontario.

Distributor of specialized construction materials American LBM acquired Better built truss, manufacturer and supplier of roof and floor structural components in Northern California.

Distributor of electrical products Sonepar completed the acquisition Madison Electric AND Standard electricadding more than 550 total associates across 36 locations and achieving 2023 sales of approximately $400 million.

Marietta, GA distributor of belts and conveyor system components The power of the belt expanded its operations into the Southwest through the acquisition of a Phoenix-based company Avtech industrial products.

Distributor of electrical products based in France Rexel intends to significantly expand its US telecommunications unit through acquisition Talley Inc.which employs over 300 employees, 11 warehouses and expects sales in 2024 to be approximately USD 360 million.

Insulation installer and specialist distributor TopBuild (Daytona Beach, Florida) is about to take over Insulation worksWickes, AR-based insulation services provider for the residential and light commercial markets.

Distributor of industrial and metal products Industrial BlackHawk acquired Richardson, Texas-based company Factory equipmentsimilar distributor of production tools.

Packaging for gastronomy, industrial products and distributor of JanSan consumables Imperial Dada jointly acquired R. D. McMillendistributor of JanSan and industrial supplies based in Decatur, IL.

Kodiak Construction Partners strengthened its presence in the northern U.S. mountains through acquisition Dolina Tarcica and Rentaldistributor of construction equipment and materials to contractors and homeowners in Victor, ID and surrounding areas.

Pembroke, based in NH Abrasives and tools from NH Inc. (ATNH) will connect with Gorham, ME Northern Tool Supply Co.which will be renamed Northern Tool Supply, a division of ATNH.

Based in Atlanta White hat will acquire a Michigan-based distributor of safety products and equipment National Ladder & Scaffold Co.

Distributor of PVF products Macomb Group (Sterling Heights, MI) took over the company’s operations Woodhill Delivery66-year-old distributor of PVF materials, bathroom and kitchen fittings and HVAC equipment.

Fikodis — a Canadian industrial distribution group owned by the French distributor Descours & Cabaud — acquired a distributor of tools and fasteners Dorson to expand its service offerings to the residential and commercial construction sectors in Quebec.

Taylor, a MI-based automotive paint and specialty coatings distributor Painters Supply & Equipment Co. (PSE) taken over Maple shadebased in New Jersey to further diversify its specialty coatings business.

Industrial parts distributor based in Garfield, New Jersey HVH industrial solutions acquired Supplies for the metro industry expand its product range of power transmission and motion control parts in the New Jersey area.

MRO parts distribution Movement acquired Allied circuits (Buffalo, NY), designer, manufacturer and servicer of industrial control panels, electromechanical assemblies, robotics and integrated solutions. Allied serves Western and Upstate New York and into Ontario.

Distributor of lifting and rigging products Raising the bishop (Houston) foreclosed Ocean equipmenta similar distributor of rigging and mooring products with a location in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and a second location in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland.

Distributor of specialized construction products AGM will expand its presence in southern Ontario, Canada through acquisition Yvon Building Supplies and its affiliates for $144 million.

Packaging for gastronomy, industrial products and distributor of JanSan consumables Imperial Dada will exceed 10 acquisitions in 2024 after adding two packaging materials distributors – Canpaco in Woodbridge, Ontario and 3G packaging in Rochester, New York.

Distributor of fasteners and industrial products AFC Industry acquired Meg Technologies Inc. (Huntington Beach, CA), a supplier of military-standard fasteners to OEMs, maintenance facilities, Department of Defense customers and other aerospace distributors.

Specialist main distributor of fasteners LindFast solutions (Blaine, MN) entered a new adjacent product category with an addition Merco tape (Hillburn, New York), a longtime major distributor of tapes and related accessories.

Distributor of plumbing materials, PVF, HVACR and industrial products Winsupply acquired A company that services and supplies metersby acquiring a single distributor of plumbing supplies, pumps and water supplies in Memphis, Tennessee.

Middletown, CT-based Electrical services in the USA (USESI) is set to expand its presence in the Northeast through an acquisition Askco Electricity Supply – IMARK distributor with one location in Glens Falls, NY.

Distributor of specialized construction and occupational health and safety products White hat acquired WWJ Rebar, a provider of custom reinforcing steel solutions based in Aiken, South Carolina.

Ferguson announced on May 23 that it had made four new acquisitions: Southwest geographic solutions, AVCO Deliver, GAR Engineering AND Safe Step Tubs in Minnesota.

Supplier of aluminum products Metal deliveries from the East (Lake Worth, Florida) acquired Eagle Metal Distributors (Orlando, FL) – Distributor of aluminum products, patio screens and other products used in the installation and repair of pool enclosures and screens.

Cordatus Capital formed a group specifically to acquire packaged gas distributors and took its first step by investing in an independent gas distributor company in Lubbock, Texas Delivery of B&J welding materials.

Distributor of flow control and process equipment Tencarva machines acquired The shell and the three-state machine – Salt Rock, WV-based distributor specializing in thermal coating services and related parts for the industrial market.

A subsidiary of Sonepar Northeast Electrics intends to acquire a New England-based company Electrical Supply Center — a distributor with six locations between Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Producers (3)

Manufacturer of equipment for transporting critical materials Oshkosh Company intends to take over a company based in Spain AUSACROP SLprivate manufacturer of wheeled dumpers, off-road forklifts and telescopic loaders.

Frankfurt am Main, based in Germany KPS Capital Partners will take over from Innomotics, a global supplier of electric motors and large drive systems Siemens AG for $3.8 billion.

To expand its extensive expertise in adhesive applications, the adhesive manufacturer H. B. Fuller (St. Paul, Minnesota) acquired a supplier of specialty adhesives and solutions for locking and sealing fasteners Industry n.a (Detroit, MI).

Other (1)

Based in San Francisco SugarCRM acquired sales-i.e it’s a move that both companies believe will help B2B businesses maximize revenue and profitability.

What did we miss?

Of course, the above list does not include all M&A transactions announced in May for the respective distributors and manufacturers. There will always be offers that weren’t on our radar. If you don’t see any here that you think should be included, please let us know at [email protected].