Major PHCP merger creates $40 billion national distributor network

United States, October 4, 2025

News Summary

Two member-owned distributor groups announced a merger that will combine plumbing, heating, cooling and piping operations into a single national PHCP business unit representing 349 independently owned distributors and over $40 billion in combined sales. The deal, approved by both boards and memberships after extensive due diligence, will operate under a divisional structure covering Plumbing, HVAC, PVF, Decorative Brands and Waterworks. Leadership will be shared under a merger-of-equals framework with divisional boards restructured for equal representation. The transaction expands purchasing reach and logistics capacity and is set to become operational early next year.

AD to Merge with The Commonwealth Group; Deal Forms $40B PHCP Network as Construction Tech and M&A Drive Industry Consolidation

A major consolidation in the plumbing, heating, cooling and piping supply channel will create a nationwide network with deep buying power and a broad divisional reach. The merger will bring together 349 independently owned PHCP distributors across the U.S. with total company sales of over $40 billion. The boards of both groups voted unanimously in favor of the transaction. The merger will be completed in the coming weeks and will be operationally effective on January 1, 2026.

What the deal includes and who will lead

The deal combines AD’s existing PHCP divisions with The Commonwealth Group’s buying power and membership. Mike Lepley, President of TCG, has been selected as incoming President of AD’s PHCP Business Unit. The transaction was subject to TCG shareholder approval and expected to close by the end of 2025. The Commonwealth Group has offices in Dallas and Chicago.

Scale and structure after the combination

The companies said the combined AD PHCP Business Unit will include AD Divisions for Plumbing, HVAC, PVF, Decorative Brands, and Waterworks. Post-merger, the buying group will result in about 325 independently-owned PHCP distributors within AD’s network of 1,000-plus independent companies spanning nine construction and industrial verticals and 14 divisions in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Contact and member resources

Location cited for AD corporate contact: 500 E. Swedesford Rd, Wayne, PA 19087. AD contact phone: 610.977.3100; general contact email: [email protected]. AD’s partner supplyFORCE helps independent distributors secure and jointly service large MRO and Government contracts. ADFoundation.com exists to enable the AD community to support one another’s people when disasters strike.

Why this matters now

The AD–TCG merger arrives at a moment when the construction sector is changing rapidly. Technology — including project software, drone mapping, prefab planning tools and digital documentation — is now as integral to the jobsite as traditional hand tools. Tools such as software and drones that map large commercial builds are reshaping how contractors work, bid, and manage projects. Large enterprise software providers have been acquiring many specialized firms in recent years, and billions of dollars have flowed into construction tech, driving record dealmaking.

How tech and M&A are linked to contractor choices

Historically, construction adopted technology more slowly than banking and healthcare, with capital focused on labor, equipment and materials. Rising material costs, ongoing supply-chain disruptions and a skilled labor shortage have pushed contractors to seek smarter, more efficient ways to operate. Investors and software companies see these pressure points and have invested heavily. For big strategics the goal is to build end-to-end platforms covering bidding, estimating, field management, safety compliance and facility operations.

Practical effects for smaller contractors

Consolidation can offer practical benefits for small contractors. Aggregating niche tools under larger platforms can reduce the need to use separate apps for time tracking, inventory, scheduling and billing by integrating them into a single platform. Bigger companies often bring more resources for training, customer support and updates compared with smaller startups, and consolidation can reduce the risk of long-term instability for users of niche tools. A plumbing professional might generate estimates in the office, dispatch jobs to field techs, track time and materials, and send invoices all within one integrated system.

Trade-offs and risks

Consolidation also brings downsides. Contractors may end up paying for bundled features they do not need if pricing shifts from small-scale packages to enterprise tiers. Each acquisition can bring new interfaces and updates that require retraining. Fewer independent vendors can reduce competition and slow niche innovation. The practical recommendation for small and mid-sized contractors is to audit current tools, evaluate ROI carefully, ask vendors about pricing transparency and exit clauses, and clarify core versus add-on features before agreeing to long-term subscriptions.

Deal context across construction

Mergers and private equity platform plays accelerated in late 2023 and through 2024. Buyers are especially interested in specialist contractors in mechanical, electrical, plumbing and HVAC markets, as these segments produce steady, serviceable cash flows and strong backlogs. Examples of 2024 construction-related transactions include platform and strategic buys across HVAC, electrical infrastructure and MEP specialties, indicating strong investor appetite for companies that can scale and modernize operations.

Other consolidation examples

Consolidation is visible beyond PHCP. Private groups and operators are pursuing roll-ups in specialty recreation and property sectors. The forces shaping these deals are often the same: scale, centralized purchasing, platform efficiencies and product-supplier simplification.

Bottom line for suppliers, manufacturers and customers

The AD–TCG merger is a major channel event that will change buying patterns, vendor relationships and divisional governance across the PHCP market. Suppliers working with both groups may see redundancy eliminated and greater centralized negotiation. Members and customers should prepare for board restructuring, new divisional committees and potential changes in vendor interfaces and purchasing workflows.

Practical next steps for contractors and distributors

Author note

This report places the AD–TCG merger inside a wider wave of construction consolidation driven by technology adoption, investor capital and practical pressures on contractors. Contractors who approach consolidation thoughtfully should be better positioned to operate, scale and run profitable businesses.

FAQ

Q: What does the merger do?

A: The merger will bring together 349 independently owned PHCP distributors across the U.S. with total company sales of over $40 billion.

Q: When will the merger take effect?

A: The merger will be completed in the coming weeks and will be operationally effective on January 1, 2026.

Q: Who will lead the combined PHCP business unit?

A: Mike Lepley, President of TCG, has been selected as incoming President of AD’s PHCP Business Unit.

Q: Where are The Commonwealth Group offices located?

A: The Commonwealth Group has offices in Dallas and Chicago.

Q: What is The Commonwealth Group’s purchasing force?

A: TCG’s website states its purchasing force spans 103 distributors comprised of 1,350 branches across the U.S., with combined sales exceeding $9 billion.

Q: What will the combined network look like after the merger?

A: Post-merger, the buying group will result in about 325 independently-owned PHCP distributors within AD’s network of 1,000-plus independent companies spanning nine construction and industrial verticals and 14 divisions in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Q: Where can I find AD’s corporate contact?

A: Location cited for AD corporate contact: 500 E. Swedesford Rd, Wayne, PA 19087. AD contact phone: 610.977.3100; general contact email: [email protected].

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Key features at a glance

Feature Detail
Headline AD to merge with The Commonwealth Group
Network size 349 independently owned PHCP distributors across the U.S.
Total company sales Over $40 billion
Operational effective date January 1, 2026
Incoming PHCP leader Mike Lepley, President of TCG
AD contact 500 E. Swedesford Rd, Wayne, PA 19087; 610.977.3100; [email protected]
TCG purchasing force 103 distributors, 1,350 branches across the U.S., combined sales exceeding $9 billion

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