A national record of lower middle market ownership transitions, the verified independent sponsors that have bought companies like them, and the capital observed financing those deals. Facts, inferences and estimates are labelled as such, with the source and the date, on every row.

Sector

Specialty distribution

111 confirmed transactions read in this sector, 11 of them in the last twelve months, from 55 named buyers. 13 capital providers are named on those deals. The company universe behind it is 9,373 privately held employers.

Latest deal Sep 3, 2026
10 verified independent sponsors · 16 deals with the capital named
Who is consolidating this sector
  1. 6Imperial Dadeoperating company or platform2024 to 2025
  2. 4Full Guard Capitalverified independent sponsor2022 to 2026 · 1 in 12 months
  3. 4Onward Capitalverified independent sponsor2021 to 2025
  4. 4BradyPLUSoperating company or platform2024 to 2025
  5. 4Rox Capital Partnersverified independent sponsor2017 to 2025
  6. 3SiteOne Landscape Supplyoperating company or platform2026 to 2026 · 3 in 12 months
  7. 3Borgman Capitalverified independent sponsor2023 to 2026 · 1 in 12 months
  8. 3Winsupply Inc.operating company or platform2025 to 2026 · 1 in 12 months
  9. 3Roebling Capital Partnersverified independent sponsor2021 to 2025
  10. 3BradyIFS + Envoy Solutionsoperating company or platform2023 to 2023

Deals DFX has read in this sector only. A buyer active in several sectors counts once here per sector, and its own page carries the whole chronology with the announcement behind each row.

What closed here, and who paid for it
  1. Sep 3, 2026Platform acquisitionconfidence 70%
    Lion Equity Partners acquired Myers Tire Supply (Akron, OH)
    Lion Equity acquired the North America business of Myers Tire Supply from Myers Industries for $30 million, a 233-employee Akron distributor with about $187 million in revenue.
    DFX analyst research (General-assisted, every claim URL-cited) peprofessional.com
  2. Aug 18, 2026Recapitalizationconfidence 90%
    Main Street Capital Corporation recapitalised Midstream Valve Partners, LLC (Tomball, TX)
    Main Street partnered with MVP's founder to facilitate a minority recapitalization, with Main Street's $39.3 million investment including first lien senior secured term debt and a direct minority equity investment.
    DFX analyst research (General-assisted, every claim URL-cited) mainstcapital.com
  3. Aug 11, 2026Platform acquisitionconfidence 90%
    Clarendon Capital, LLC acquired O'Donnell Metal Deck & Bar Joist (Elkridge, MD)
    Ironwood Capital announces investment in O'Donnell Metal Deck & Bar Joist to support its acquisition by Clarendon Capital, LLC.
    DFX analyst research (General-assisted, every claim URL-cited) myemail.constantcontact.com
  4. Aug 4, 2026Strategic acquisitionconfidence 90%
    SiteOne Landscape Supply acquired Patterson Nursery Sales, Inc. (Eagle Creek, OR)
    SiteOne, through its subsidiary Devil Mountain Wholesale Nursery, acquired Patterson Nursery Sales, a grower and distributor of premium Oregon nursery products serving customers coast-to-coast.
    DFX analyst research (General-assisted, every claim URL-cited) investors.siteone.com
  5. Jul 15, 2026Majority investmentconfidence 90%
    Borgman Capital acquired CMW Equipment (St. Louis, MO)
    Bank of CMG · Lender
    Borgman Capital announced today its investment in CMW Equipment ("CMW"), a leading distributor of concrete production and roadwork equipment headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.
    DFX analyst research (General-assisted, every claim URL-cited) borgmancapital.com
  6. May 5, 2026Add onconfidence 90%
    Southerncarlson, Inc. acquired W Construction Supply (N Canton, OH)
    SouthernCarlson, backed by Truelink Capital, acquired W Construction Supply of Barberton, Ohio to add rebar fabrication and Ohio contractor relationships to its platform.
    DFX analyst research (General-assisted, every claim URL-cited) prnewswire.com
  7. May 5, 2026Strategic acquisitionconfidence 90%
    Winsupply Inc. acquired Rural Pipe & Supply (Jasper, TX)
    Winsupply Inc. acquired Rural Pipe & Supply of Jasper, Texas, a waterworks supplier with 18 employees across two locations.
    DFX analyst research (General-assisted, every claim URL-cited) company.winsupply.com
  8. Apr 30, 2026Add onconfidence 90%
    Full Guard Capital acquired Carolina Furnishing + Design, LLC (West End, NC)
    Full Guard Capital is pleased to announce our portfolio company, Community Furnishing Group ("CFG"), has partnered with Carolina Furnishing + Design ("CF+D").
    DFX analyst research (General-assisted, every claim URL-cited) fullguardcapital.com
  9. Mar 17, 2026Strategic acquisitionconfidence 90%
    SiteOne Landscape Supply acquired Reinders, Inc. (Sussex, WI)
    SiteOne acquired Reinders, a fifth-generation family-owned distributor of irrigation, agronomics, holiday and landscape lighting, and landscape supplies with 12 locations across the Midwest.
    DFX analyst research (General-assisted, every claim URL-cited) investors.siteone.com
  10. Jan 14, 2026Strategic acquisitionconfidence 90%
    SiteOne Landscape Supply acquired Bourget Flagstone Co. (Santa Monica, CA)
    SiteOne Landscape Supply announced the acquisition of Bourget Flagstone Co., a wholesale distributor of hardscapes products with one location in Santa Monica, California.
    DFX analyst research (General-assisted, every claim URL-cited) investors.siteone.com
  11. Sep 23, 2025Platform acquisitionconfidence 70%
    Tailwind Capital acquired DMD Systems Recovery, Inc (Tempe, AZ)
    Stellus provided senior debt financing and an equity co-investment in support of Tailwind Capital's investment in DMD Systems Recovery.
    DFX analyst research (General-assisted, every claim URL-cited) stelluscapital.com
  12. Sep 15, 2025Majority investmentconfidence 80%
    Dallas Opportunity Partners (named in the announcement; no firm record yet) acquired B & S Aircraft Alloys Inc (Syosset, NY)
    Providence Investment Partners · Lender
    The financing supported Dallas Opportunity Partners' ("DOP") investment in B&S alongside the two owners to support future growth of the business. (buyer: Dallas Opportunity Partners)
    DFX analyst research (General-assisted, every claim URL-cited) providenceip.com
  13. Aug 15, 2025Platform acquisitionconfidence 90%
    ShoreView Industries acquired Frham Safety Products, Inc. (Rock Hill, SC)
    ShoreView partnered with Frham Safety Products, which brings over 40 years of experience serving the nuclear power industry.
    DFX analyst research (General-assisted, every claim URL-cited) shoreview.com
  14. Jul 17, 2025Add onconfidence 90%
    Onward Capital acquired Everlast Saw of North America (with subsidiary Ridge Carbide Tool) (Hutchinson, KS)
    Onward Capital announced today that portfolio company Century Drill & Tool has acquired Hutchinson, Kansas-based Everlast Saw of North America and its wholly owned subsidiary, Ridge Carbide Tool.
    DFX analyst research (General-assisted, every claim URL-cited) onwardcapllc.com
  15. Jun 9, 2025Add onconfidence 90%
    BradyPLUS acquired Biloxi Paper Company, Inc. (Biloxi, MS)
    BradyPLUS, a leading distributor of janitorial / sanitation, foodservice and industrial packaging products, has acquired Biloxi Paper Company, a third-generation family-owned distributor founded in 1968.
    DFX analyst research (General-assisted, every claim URL-cited) bradyplus.com
  16. May 21, 2025Strategic acquisitionconfidence 90%
    Winsupply Inc. acquired United Lighting and Supply Company (Fort Walton Beach, FL)
    Winsupply acquired Florida-based United Lighting & Supply Co., a wholesale distributor of electrical apparatus, lighting and appliances with 34 employees and four locations.
    DFX analyst research (General-assisted, every claim URL-cited) company.winsupply.com
  17. May 7, 2025Strategic acquisitionconfidence 90%
    Winsupply Inc. acquired Industrial Sales Company, Inc. (Olathe, KS)
    Winsupply Inc., one of the nation's largest wholesale distributors, has acquired Industrial Sales Co.
    DFX analyst research (General-assisted, every claim URL-cited) company.winsupply.com
  18. Feb 28, 2025Add onconfidence 90%
    Rox Capital Partners acquired Mid America Valve (KS)
    Scruggs Company and Neil Technical Services (NTS), together a portfolio company of Rox Capital Partners, announced today the acquisition of Mid America Valve (MAV), a Kansas-based distributor serving the water and wastewater industry.
    DFX analyst research (General-assisted, every claim URL-cited) roxcp.com
  19. Feb 24, 2025Add onconfidence 90%
    Imperial Dade acquired Athens Janitor Supply Company (Athens, GA)
    Imperial Dade announced the acquisition of Athens Janitor Supply Company, Inc. and Chittom Industries, Inc., its 97th acquisition, adding three distribution locations in Georgia.
    DFX analyst research (General-assisted, every claim URL-cited) imperialbrady.com
  20. Feb 24, 2025Add onconfidence 90%
    Imperial Dade acquired Chittom Industries, Inc. (Athens, GA)
    Imperial Dade announced the acquisition of Athens Janitor Supply Company, Inc. and Chittom Industries, Inc., expanding its presence in Georgia.
    DFX analyst research (General-assisted, every claim URL-cited) imperialbrady.com
  21. Jan 16, 2025Add onconfidence 90%
    Roebling Capital Partners acquired Kimsports CC (Knysna)
    Longstreth has a strong capital base led by Roebling Capital Partners, and has combined with Max Field Hockey, Cultor and now Kimsports over the last year.
    DFX analyst research (General-assisted, every claim URL-cited) roeblingcp.com
  22. Jan 14, 2025Platform acquisitionconfidence 65%
    Harbour Group acquired Senproco and Groomer's Choice (St. Louis, MO)
    Abacus Finance Group, LLC · Equity providerAbacus Finance Group, LLC · Lender
    Abacus Finance Group, LLC ... today announced that it served as Senior Secured Credit Facilities Administrative Agent and Lead Arranger to support the acquisition of Senproco and Groomer's Choice by Harbour Group.
    DFX analyst research (General-assisted, every claim URL-cited) abacusfinance.com
  23. Jan 14, 2025Add onconfidence 90%
    Imperial Dade acquired S. Freedman & Sons, Inc. (Landover, MD)
    Imperial Dade announced the acquisition of S. Freedman & Sons, Inc., a Landover, Maryland distributor with a nearly 120-year history, its 96th acquisition.
    DFX analyst research (General-assisted, every claim URL-cited) imperialbrady.com
  24. Dec 16, 2024Majority investmentconfidence 70%
    AUA Private Equity Partners, LLC acquired Tropical Cheese Industries, Inc. (Perth Amboy, NJ)
    AUA Private Equity and Avance Investment Management acquired family-owned Tropical Cheese Industries of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, with the Mendez family retaining a minority stake.
    DFX analyst research (General-assisted, every claim URL-cited) peprofessional.com
  25. Dec 10, 2024Platform acquisitionconfidence 90%
    Crossplane Capital acquired Distributor Wire and Cable (Denver, CO)
    Crossplane Capital announced it has completed the acquisition of Distributor Wire and Cable, a master distributor of electrical wire and cable products.
    DFX analyst research (General-assisted, every claim URL-cited) crossplanecapital.com

The names under each deal are the parties the announcement itself printed, in the role it gave them. Most announcements name the buyer and not the lenders, which is why 16 of 111 deals here carry capital.

Independent sponsors buying here

Firms that cleared the verified-sponsor evidence and bought a company in this sector, most recent first.

Other buyers on these deals

Funds, strategics, holding companies and firms DFX has not verified as independent sponsors. They are named because an announcement named them as the buyer.

The capital that shows up here

Lenders and equity providers named beside a sponsor on a deal in this sector, by deals read.

Email me when specialty distribution changes
No password, no account. One line per change, with the source.
The weekly brief

Tell us your two sectors. Every Monday: every deal announced in them, the buyer, the company and the capital named on it, and the ownership changes DFX read out of the filings.

Set up my brief No password. The first brief shows on screen before you confirm anything.

Capital provider? The lender edition leads with the sponsors that closed in your sectors and who financed each one.