Industrial distribution dealmaking activity posted another strong month in August, with volume improving for a second straight month to the second busiest month of 2024 so far.

MDM published news about 36 different transactions — either pending or completed — in August that involved at least one distributor in industrial, commercial and building supply verticals. That topped July’s 31 and only trailed May’s 40 as the strongest month for deal volume. August 2023 had 27 M&A items.

August 2024 pushed MDM’s year-to-date count up to 236 through eight months for an average of 29.5 deals per month. That’s far ahead of the 23.9 monthly average through the first eight months of 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:

August’s activity was highlighted by Performance Food Group’s pending $2.1 billion purchase of Riviera, FL-based Cheney Bros., which is set to significantly expand PFG’s presence in the U.S. southeast. 

Master wholesaler ORS Nasco is changing ownership hands from One Equity Partners to fellow private equity firm Wynnchurch Capital, and pharmaceuticals distributor McKesson will expand its oncology platform with a $2.5 billion acquisition of Core Ventures.

Elsewhere, serial acquirers Core & Main, Imperial Dade, Cook & Boardman and Beacon each made a pair of deals during August.

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

Taylor, MI-based automotive refinish and specialty coating solutions supplier PSE Group expanded its service geography with the acquisition of RMS Pro Finishes (Charleston, WV).

Melbourne, FL-based Military Fasteners — an eCommerce mil-spec fasteners distributor — was privately acquired by private equity firm Montage Partners.

Specialty building materials distributor GMS acquired Orlando, FL-based stucco, exterior insulation and finishing system supplier R.S. Elliot Specialty Supply.

Building materials distributor Builders FirstSource acquired Delaware-based Wyoming Millwork Co. — an independent lumber and building material distributor.

Building materials distributor Kodiak Building Partners acquired San Antonio Masonry and Steel — a masonry, stone, stucco and steel products provider.

Healthcare and pharmaceutical distributor McKesson is set to acquire a controlling interest in business and administrative services organization Core Ventures for $2.5 billion.

Mid-market private equity firm Inflexion acquired U.K.-based cutting tool distributor Cutwel.

Automotive aftermarket parts providers Advance Auto plans to sell Newark, CA-based Worldpac Inc. — an equipment and quality aftermarket replacement parts importer and distributor — to global investment firm Carlyle.

Canton, MA-based BSC Industries acquired fellow bearings and power transmission products distributor Hopkinton, MA-based Warren Pike.

Industrial air compressor manufacturer and distributor Hitachi Global Air Power acquired Longview, TX-based Air Power Sales and Services — a provider of air compressors, air treatment products, accessories and related equipment.

Food and foodservice distributor Performance Food Group plans to acquire Riviera, FL-based Cheney Brothers, Inc — a foodservice distributor currently owned by private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice — for $2.1 billion. The PFG also acquired Puerto Rico food distributor José Santiago in July.

Irving, TX-based residential building products distributor PrimeSource acquired Montreal, Canada-based Cobra — a manufacturer of hollow wall, universal and masonry anchors.

Birmingham, AL-based MRO replacement parts distributor Motion will acquire Windsor, Canada-based LSI Supply Inc — a bearing, seals, power transmission, fluid power components and industrial supplies distributor and its sister company 273 Ontario.

Belgium-based plastic piping systems manufacturer and distributor Aliaxis SA will acquire the manufacturing assets of Huntsville, AL based Johnson Controls CPVC — a pipe and fittings supplier.

Virginia-based independent distributors holding group Legacy Food Group (LFG) acquired Madison, AL-based Halsey Foodservice — a family-owned distributor of food products.

Commercial door, frame and hardware distributor Cook & Boardman acquired Hutto, TX-based Brymer Communication Services (BryComm) and Denver, CO-based Architectural Doors, Inc. (ADI).

Rosemont, IL-based Wynnchurch Capital, L.P. acquired MRO supplies master wholesaler ORS Nasco from One Equity Partners.

Cincinnati-based fasteners and other hardware products distributor Hillman Solutions acquired wiping cloths, consumable rags and other cleaning textiles supplier Intex DIY, Inc. (Villa Rica, GA).

Metalworking and industrial products distributor BlackHawk Industrial acquired New Britain, PA-based Tri-State Industrial Supplies.

Waterworks and industrial supplies distributor Core & Main will acquire Juliette, GA-based GroGreen Solution Georgia — an erosion control and geotextile products provider. Infrastructure supplies distributor. The company also added Fort Worth, TX-based Green Equipment Company — a damage prevention, utility locating and wastewater equipment distributor.

Foodservice, packaging supplies, industrial products and janitorial supplies distributor Imperial Dade acquiredPhoenix, AZ -based Excell Direct — a distributor of foodservice and janitorial products andReno, NV-based Inland Supply — a janitorial supply, food service products and facility maintenance supplies distributor.

Appliance repair parts and HVAC distributor D&L Parts Company acquired Cashwell Appliance Parts — an HVAC and appliance parts distributor based in Fayetteville, NC.

Chino, CA-based industrial flow control products distributor Harrington Process Solutions acquired Tulsa, OK-based Cortrol Process Systems — a distributor of corrosion-resistant flow control products.

Roofing, exterior and interior products distributor ABC Supply acquired Los Angeles, CA-based American Building Materials — a distributor of steep- and low-slope roofing and waterproofing.

Roofing, waterproofing and related exterior products distributor Beacon announced a pair of acquisitions on Aug. 2: Canadian-based SSR Roof Supply — a supplier of roofing materials and accessories and Clifton, NJ-based Passaic Metal and Building Supplies (PAMPCO) —  a distributor of exterior and interior building materials.

Chicago, IL-based industrial metals processor and distributor of Ryerson acquired Monroe, CT-based Production Metals — a distributor of aluminum, stainless and specialty steels.

Taylor, MI-based automotive and specialty coatings distributor Painters Supply & Equipment (PSE) announced its new parent brand — PSE Group.

Dallas, TX-based industrial rubber and fluid power distributor Singer Industrial acquired Winnipeg-based MEP Brothers — a supplier of industrial and hydraulic hose, gaskets and environment spill response products.

Fluid power, automation and industrial supplies distributor Motion & Control Enterprises (MCE) acquired Air Automation Engineering (AAE) — a Fridley, MN-based distributor of automation products and automated tooling solutions.

Specialty building materials distributor US LBM  acquired L.D. Mullins Lumber — a Riveria Beach, FL-based building products distributor.

Ferguson acquired Buffalo, NY-based Gerster Equipment Co. and Santa Ana, CA-based United Water Works, Inc.

What’d We Miss?

Of course, the list above doesn’t encompass every M&A deal announced during August 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 editor@mdm.com.

1. Here’s our 2Q24 M&A Report (Premium)
2. Here’s our 1Q24 M&A Report (Premium)
3. Here’s our July M&A Roundup
4. Here’s our June M&A Roundup
5. Here’s our May M&A Roundup