MDM reported 25 transactions in December — either pending or completed — involving at least one distributor in the building supply, industrial or commercial hardgoods sectors. This figure is down from 31 transactions in November and 30 in October. Compared to recent historical trends, December’s activity was lower, also marking a decrease from the 36 distributor M&A deals reported in December 2023.

Despite the slowdown in December, MDM’s year-to-date total for 2024 reached 346 transactions, averaging 28.8 deals per month. That is well ahead of the 304/25.3 in 2023.

Here’s how distributor deal activity has looked like since the start of 2023, according to MDM news coverage of such items per month:

December’s activity was highlighted by Builders FirstSource’s acquisition of Englewood, CO-based Alpine Lumber company in a move set to significantly expand the distributors’ lumber resources in the Rocky Mountain region. The acquisition is expected to enhance BFS' adjusted earnings per share in 2025 and add 21 locations across the Front Range of Colorado, western Colorado and northern New Mexico.

That wasn’t the only big deal of the month. On Dec. 12, Minnesota-based dental and animal health distributor Patterson Companies was privately acquired by health care investment firm Patient Square Capital for approximately $4.1 billion.

White Cap and MRC Global announced acquisitions during December, while fellow MDM Top Distributors Motion, Motion & Control Enterprises and Kodiak Building Partners also made deals.

Find our rundown of December distributor M&A news below, mostly in reverse chronological order.

MDM’s December 2024 Distributor M&A News Coverage

(click links to view news briefs)

Instrumentation and automation, rotating equipment, valve, purification and thermal equipment distributor Relevant Industrial acquired Loy Instrument, Inc.

Specialty fastener master distributor LindFast Solutions Group acquired specialty fasteners manufacturer Big Bolt.

TECHSil acquired Viking Industrial Products in a deal between two U.K.-based adhesives distributors.

Private equity firm Sycamore Partners and home improvement retailer RONA will acquire one of the largest building solutions providers in Canada.

Builders FirstSource agreed to acquire Englewood, CO-based Alpine Lumber Company in a move set to add considerable Rocky Mountain lumber dealing resources to the building materials distributor.

Fort Wayne, IN-based automotive and industrial paint and supply distributor Automotive Color & Supply — a portfolio company of WILsquare Capital — acquired Paint Works.

Construction and industrial supplies distributor White Cap acquired Site Supply, Inc.

Irving, TX-based residential building products distributor PrimeSource acquired CityPost.

PVF and infrastructure products distributor MRC Global announced that its Canada-based subsidiary — MRC Global ULC — agreed to sell its Canada operations to Emco Corporation.

Alanta-based specialty packaging distributor Veritiv acquired Arjay Company, including all assets of packaging equipment distributor PPE Sales.

London-based industrial products and solutions distributor Rubix acquired Italy-based Somi.

Jackson, MS-based fulfillment and solutions provider Irby Utilities — a Sonepar U.S. subsidiary — acquired the assets and software capabilities of Ireland-based Azotel Technologies Limited.

Health care investment firm Patient Square Capital will buy Minnesota-based dental and animal health distributor Patterson Companies for approximately $4.1 billion.

Midlothian, TX-based heavy-duty truck aftermarket parts distributor Commercial Truck and Trailer Parts partnered with Fleet Services to expand its physical footprint in the Southern California market.

Cincinnati, OH-based distributor of industrial management and related products platform Thermal Technology Distribution Solutions acquired Minneapolis-based Applied Thermal Systems.

Irving, TX-based residential building products distributor PrimeSource acquired Harney Hardware.

Packaging solutions distributor TricorBraun acquired Veritiv’s Containers Business, previously called All American Containers.

Dallas-based private equity firm Crossplane Capital acquired Distributor Wire and Cable.

Universal City, TX-based HVACR components master distributor Global and its subsidiary AmRad Manufacturing integrated with Motors & Armatures through a private acquisition by global investment firm Platinum Equity.

Building materials distributor Kodiak Building Partners acquired Colorado-based Liberty Doors & Windows.

MRO replacement parts distributor Motion agreed to acquire U.S.-based International Conveyor and Rubber.

On-line industrial leak repair solutions provider The Colt Group acquired Plant Services, Inc.

Fluid power, automation and industrial supplies distributor Motion & Control Enterprises acquired North East Technical Sales, Inc.

Construction and contractor supplies distributor NEFCO expanded its services with the acquisition of Unistrut Midwest.

Electrical supplies distributor Sonepar sold Vallen Asia to the latter's leadership team in a move meant to focus Sonepar further on its core business.

What’d We Miss?

Of course, the list above doesn’t encompass every M&A deal announced during December for relevant distributors. There will always be deals that weren’t on our radar. If you don’t see one here you think should be included, please let us know at [email protected].

• Here's our 3Q24 M&A Report (Premium)
• Here’s our 2Q24 M&A Report (Premium)
• Here’s our 1Q24 M&A Report (Premium)
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• Here’s our November M&A Roundup
• Here’s our October M&A Roundup
• Here’s our September M&A Roundup