Ferguson recently announced it has signed a purchase agreement to acquire Columbia Pipe & Supply Co.

Columbia Pipe is an independent distributor headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, specializing in PVF, commercial mechanical, commercial plumbing, industrial, valve automation, engineered products and hydronics. The business was founded in 1935 and employs about 375 associates, with 16 locations across Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and Indiana. In the year ended Dec. 31, 2019, Columbia Pipe generated revenue of $220 million.

“Chicago is the third-largest city in the U.S. with a substantial commercial market,” Ferguson Group CEO Kevin Murphy said. “Columbia Pipe has a strong reputation and well-established vendor and customer relationships in this important region. This acquisition accelerates our Chicago market strategy and will allow us to rapidly expand our existing capabilities across the Midwest.”

The transaction is subject to receipt of regulatory approval from the relevant competition authorities which is expected this fiscal quarter.