Why This Matters to Distributors: The merger would combine two major equipment dealer associations into a single organization representing dealers across agriculture, construction, industrial, forestry, mining, power generation and outdoor power equipment. The combined group would bring advocacy, dealer-manufacturer relations, workforce development, education, and research under one organization.
The North American Equipment Dealers Association and Associated Equipment Distributors plan to merge, bringing thousands of equipment dealer locations across the U.S. and Canada under a single industry association.
The organizations announced the agreement on Sept. 24. The merger is expected to take effect Jan. 31, 2027, following a vote by eligible North American Equipment Dealers Association members this fall.
The combined organization will operate as Associated Equipment Distributors, or AED, and will be headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois. Its Canadian headquarters will remain in Calgary, Alberta.
The two associations have significant reach across equipment distribution. AED represents more than 7,800 dealer locations across North America and 1,000 companies worldwide involved in the sale, rental and support of equipment used in construction, agriculture, mining, forestry, power generation and industrial applications.
NAEDA represents more than 3,500 equipment dealer locations in the agriculture, industrial, construction, forestry, and outdoor power equipment sectors. The associations’ membership may overlap, so those location counts should not be considered a combined post-merger total.
The merger would expand AED’s presence in agricultural and outdoor power equipment while giving NAEDA members access to the larger organization’s advocacy, education, workforce development, research, and industry programs.
The associations said they also plan to consolidate their government advocacy in Washington and Ottawa, as well as at the state and provincial levels.
Brian McGuire, AED’s president and CEO, will lead the combined association.
Governance will initially be handled by a transition board combining the existing AED and NAEDA boards. The association plans to establish a permanent board of about 27 members, including a 12-member executive committee.
Current NAEDA dealer members will automatically become AED members following the merger and will not pay AED membership dues in 2027. The combined organization will operate under a one-member, one-vote system, giving single-location dealers the same voting rights as larger multibranch companies.
NAEDA’s existing dealer-protection advocacy and manufacturer-dealer programs are expected to continue during the transition. The organizations also plan to consolidate overlapping programs and services.
The Equipment Dealers Foundation and AED Foundation are expected to be combined, bringing their workforce development, education, and scholarship programs together. The Canadian Equipment Dealers Foundation will remain a separate organization.
The associations also plan to combine their political action committees after the transaction closes.
Eligible NAEDA dealer members, including outdoor power equipment dealers, are expected to vote on the merger and amended bylaws between Oct. 15 and Nov. 15. Affiliate, associate, manufacturer and other nondealer members will not vote.
If approved, the combined Associated Equipment Distributors is scheduled to begin operations Jan. 31.
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