MDM’s Top News Stories of 2024
Summary
Mergers and acquisitions in the distribution sector consistently capture the attention of executives who monitor these announcements to assess their impact on competitor growth, long-term prospects and even the overall health of the market. MDM’s 2024 tally of M&A news involving distributors of industrial, commercial and building supply products or manufacturers that sell into the channel increased compared to 2023. However, a class action lawsuit filed on Aug. 23, accusing three major distributors — Core & Main, Ferguson and Fortiline Waterworks — of exploiting supply chain disruptions to fix prices and overcharge customers in the U.S. was this year’s most viewed news item, and by far. A class action lawsuit alleges that leading PVC pipe manufacturers exploited supply chain disruptions to fix prices and overcharge customers. The merger between BradyIFS and Envoy Solutions resulted in a JanSan, foodservice disposables and industrial packaging products distributor with about $5 billion in annual revenue.