Since the start of May, at least 25 deals big and small in distribution were announced on MDM’s distribution M&A news page.
| We Deliver Distribution News to Your Inbox Sign up below to receive MDM Update, your free weekly distribution news update by email. |
We’ve also seen some large acquisitions in manufacturing that affect independent distribution channels, including Eaton’s acquisition of Cooper Industries and Stanley Black & Decker’s recent acquisition of Powers Fasteners.
What’s driving the activity? A few contributors include pent-up demand, more favorable economic conditions (leading to stronger valuations) and increased interest by owners looking to exit the business.
Both private equity and strategic acquirers continue to play a strong role in the most recent consolidation trend.
To provide insight, MDM will feature three panelists in a June 28 live webcast event, the 2012 Wholesale Distribution M&A Update. They’ll talk about key trends in North American and international M&A markets for distribution and key drivers for financial and strategic buyers. They’ll also provide some insight on the selling process – including what sellers can do to optimize valuations and how the process works.
The panelists include Charley Hale, CFO of FCX Performance, a distributor of process flow control products and related services; Jason Kliewer, a director in the distribution practices at Robert W. Baird & Co.; and David O. Hawkins, investment team leader with CHS Capital, a private equity firm that has invested in several distribution companies.
If you can’t make the live event, pre-order the distribution M&A update DVD here. It will be shipped after the event at the end of June.
