Lexington, KY-based private equity firm MiddleGround Capital, which invests in middle market B2B industrial and specialty distribution companies, acquired Rotterdam, Netherlands-based distributor GMS Instruments to strengthen its position in the maritime industry.

GMS Instruments is supplier of measurement, regulation and control instruments for the maritime, offshore and industrial end markets. The company’s product inventory includes instruments within pressure, temperature, flow and level, valves and actuators, diagnostics, environment and engine control, test and calibration and gas detection.

GMS will be integrated into MiddleGround’s portfolio platform PVI Holdings, specifically as part of W&O Supply, a supplier of valves, pipes, and fittings to the global maritime industry.

“Instrumentation as a product group is a natural fit with the existing W&O product groups of valves and automation that will allow us to offer a comprehensive suite of products and services, and are looking forward to our continued collaboration with the MiddleGround team as we expand our global capabilities,” said Kristof Adam, Managing Director of W&O Europe, in a June 11 press release.

The addition of GMS brings a complementary product offering to W&O’s established channels, providing cross-selling opportunities.  The transaction will also serve to amplify GMS’ geographic reach through a joint, global customer network underpinned by W&O’s network of offices across Europe, the United States and Asia.

W&O Supply Expansion

“The acquisition represents a key step in expanding the W&O Supply business as part of our long-term commitment to invest in organic and inorganic growth initiatives across the PVI platform,” MiddleGround Managing Partner John Stewart said. “In addition to increasing the overall size and range of available offerings, incorporating GMS into W&O Europe makes sense on many levels and we believe that by leveraging these two strong brands, they are further sending a signal to the market about the trust and quality of their respective products while also adding instrumentation to W&O’s overall product suite.”

MiddleGround acquired Houston, TX-headquartered PVI Holdings in July 2022, in a transaction which included W&O Supply as well as PVI’s two other operating business units, Setpoint Integrated Solutions and A-T Controls.

MiddleGround Takes Starrett Private

On June 5, The L.S. Starrett Company announced it has completed a previously announced merger with an affiliate of MiddleGround Capital.

As a result of the transaction, Starrett is now a privately-held company.

Read more about the deal here.