Why This Matters to Distributors: The acquisition is one of the largest industrial distribution transactions of 2026 and highlights continued investor demand for distributors with recurring maintenance, repair and operations revenue, strong regional market positions, and resilient cash flow.
Brookfield Asset Management has agreed to acquire a controlling stake in Gregg Distributors in a transaction valuing the Canadian industrial distributor at approximately C$1.6 billion, one of the largest wholesale distribution acquisitions announced this year. The deal is expected to close by the end of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.
Brookfield said it will acquire the Gregg family’s ownership stake, along with shares held by some employees, while employees will retain an ownership interest in the company. Gregg’s senior management team will remain in place, supported by Brookfield’s operations group, and the company’s 1,000 employees are expected to remain with the business.
Founded in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1968, Gregg Distributors is one of Canada’s largest independent industrial distributors. The company supplies maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) products, including fasteners, tools, safety equipment, hoses, fittings, welding supplies, and industrial consumables, serving customers in manufacturing, energy, mining, construction, agriculture, and transportation.
Gregg operates branches across Western Canada and has built its business around next-day delivery, deep local inventory, and technical support for industrial customers. Its Edmonton headquarters includes a 584,000-square-foot distribution center that supplies the company’s branch network.
Brookfield said it intends to preserve Gregg’s operating model while supporting the distributor’s next phase of growth.
The acquisition continues a broader trend of private equity firms investing in industrial distribution businesses with stable customer relationships and recurring demand. Unlike distributors tied primarily to new construction, MRO distributors generate a significant share of revenue from replacement parts and consumable products needed to keep factories, mines and industrial facilities operating, making their sales less vulnerable to economic swings.
The transaction also reinforces the premium investors continue to place on scaled distributors with strong regional market positions. Gregg has built one of the largest independently owned industrial distribution networks in Western Canada, giving Brookfield an established platform in sectors expected to benefit from long-term investment in energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure.
For North American distributors, the deal is another indication that consolidation remains active despite higher financing costs. Strategic buyers and private equity firms continue to pursue distributors with broad product assortments, strong customer retention, and value-added service capabilities, particularly those serving industrial end markets where demand tends to be more resilient than consumer-oriented sectors.
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