AD – AD and The Commonwealth Group announce intent to merge

September 2, 2025

Wayne, PA – In a move that is expected to positively impact the future of independent PHCP distribution in the United States, AD and The Commonwealth Group (TCG) announce their intent to merge.

The AD Board of Directors and the TCG Board of Directors are pleased to jointly announce that after many months of confidential discussions and extensive due diligence, both Boards have unanimously voted to merge TCG and AD. The transaction is subject to TCG shareholder approval and is expected to close later this year.

This merger of equals within the U.S. PHCP industry brings together two member-owned groups consisting of 325 independently owned independent PHCP distributors in the U.S. and will be part of the overall AD community of over 1,000 independents spanning nine construction and industrial verticals and fourteen divisions within the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

As a result of the merger, AD’s U.S. Plumbing and HVAC Divisional Boards and Vendor Committees will be reconstituted to provide for equal representation of membership; AD’s PVF and Decorative Brand Divisions will also be reconstituted to provide representation from both groups as well as TCG’s Waterworks Division.

Colin Perry, TCG Board Chairman and President of the Rampart division of Cregger Company, Inc., commented “We believe this merger will significantly strengthen AD and TCG’s PHCP members and partners in the United States. It will bring together the BEST in both organizations’ programs and services, provide a valuable and effective hedge against consolidation and eliminate significant redundancies for our supplier partners currently working with two separate groups.”

Speaking on behalf of the AD Board of Directors, Paul Kennedy, the CEO of DSG commented, “Both organizations have a rich history of supporting leading independents in this industry. Coming together represents a powerful opportunity for us to further strengthen a channel that suppliers, manufacturer representatives, and customers highly value.”

TCG President Mike Lepley has been selected to lead the overall AD PHCP Business Unit reporting directly to AD’s CEO, Bill Weisberg. Mr. Lepley succeeds Jeffrey Beall who successfully served in this role at AD for the past 14 years and earlier this year announced his decision to depart AD in 2026. Mr. Beall will serve as Senior Advisor at AD through the spring of 2026 to ensure a smooth transition.

Mike Lepley, president of The Commonwealth Group (TCG) shared “The opportunities this union will provide are infinite. Getting to know the AD organization through this process has been a great experience. The opportunity to combine the very best of each group to collectively make our strong independents and supplier partners even stronger now and into the future is extremely exciting.”

AD Chairman & CEO, Bill Weisberg commented, “We are honored to be joining forces with this highly respected group, their strong members and dedicated associates. This will be AD’s 17th merger and our 6th within the PHCP industry. These mergers have given us the scale to cost-effectively develop and fund value-added programs and services which help our members and suppliers grow, while enhancing our collective importance to suppliers as valued business partners. They truly are win-win.”

Howard Rose, former TCG Board Co-Chairman and CEO of The Portland Group, commented, “The future is bright for independents in the PHCP industry. Many of us are already business partners and friends so we are excited about working together and formally leveraging the power of best practice exchange and new ideas.”

SourceAD

EMR Analysis

More information on AD – Affiliated Distributor: See the full profile on EMR Executive Services

More information on Bill Weisberg (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, AD): See the full profile on EMR Executive Services

More information on Drew Moyer (Chief Financial Officer, AD): See the full profile on EMR Executive Services

More information on Jeffrey Beall (President PHCP Business Unit (Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Pipes) and Senior Advisor, AD till Spring 2026): See the full profile on EMR Executive Services

More information on Justin Dunscomb (President, PVF Divisions (Plumbing, Pipe, Valves and Fittings) – US, AD): See the full profile on EMR Executive Services

More information on Dan Kelly (President, Plumbing Division – US & Decorative Brands Division, AD): See the full profile on EMR Executive Services

More information on The Commonwealth Group (TCG): https://www.tcgltd.com/ + The Commonwealth Group (TCG) is the premier member-owned buying group in the Plumbing, PVF, HVAC, Waterworks and Irrigation industry.

The Commonwealth Group (TCG) is a dynamic alliance driven by a collaborative board and committees, dedicated to achieving shared goals and initiatives that ensure the success of each individual owner. TCG capitalizes on its expansive national reach and scale to deliver unrivaled purchasing power to its members. Our offerings include financial incentives, a streamlined payment model, access to marketing resources, robust networking opportunities and most importantly, transparency, all designed to bolster each owner’s bottom line. With an aggregate purchasing force spanning 103 distributors and over 1350 branches across the nation, TCG levels the playing field for independent wholesalers. TCG proudly boasts a collective sales volume exceeding $9 billion, backed by partnerships with over 135 leading manufacturers.

The Commonwealth Group Verticals:

PLUMBING
- Through close collaboration with more than 100 plumbing industry suppliers, we work together to boost sales and profits, ultimately gaining a distinct competitive edge in the market
HVAC
- Looking to expand market share as an HVAC distributor or seeking alignment with fast-growing local market leaders as a supplier? TCG can help you achieve your objectives.
WATERWORKS
- We offer comprehensive support and strategic solutions to fuel the rapid growth of the waterworks vertical, helping you stay ahead in the market.

More information on Colin J. Perry (Chairman, The Commonwealth Group (TCG) + President, Rampart Division, Cregger Company, Inc.): https://www.creggercompany.com/blog?ID=1648247267647 + https://www.rampartsupply.com/aboutus

More information on Mike Lepley (President, The Commonwealth Group (TCG) + President PHCP Business Unit (Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Pipes), AD as from TCG Shareholder Approval in 2025): See the full profile on EMR Executive Services

More information on Cregger Company, Inc.: https://www.creggercompany.com/ + What began as a small plumbing supply house in West Columbia, SC, on October 1, 1978, has grown into Cregger Company—a trusted name with 50+ locations serving South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Colorado. And through all that growth, we’ve stayed true to our roots as a family-owned business that puts people first.

We proudly offer Plumbing, HVAC, Electrical supplies, and Appliances, catering to contractors, builders, and homeowners alike. But what really sets us apart are our showrooms, where you can explore the depth and breadth of our elegant product lines. Whether you’re remodeling a kitchen, refreshing a bathroom, or tackling a new build, our showrooms are designed to inspire you with ideas and possibilities.

720 Employees
50+ Locations
45 Years in Business

More information on Matthew Cregger (Chief Executive Officer, Cregger Company, Inc.): https://www.creggercompany.com/blog?ID=1726841713697 + https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-cregger-227b3733/

More information on Dakota Supply Group (DSG): https://www.dsgsupply.com + Since our founding in 1898—with roots dating back to 1868, Dakota Supply Group (DSG) has been dedicated to providing all the right connections to our customers in the electrical; plumbing; HVAC; refrigeration; communications; utility; automation; waterworks; on-site sewer, water and well; filtration and metering technology industries. We carry more than 65,000 products from the top brands, but that’s only the beginning. Our experienced team of specialists provides customers with solutions that help them to maximize their employees’ productivity and increase their company’s profitability. We work mainly with:

Electricians
Plumbers
HVAC/R technicians
Contractors
Communication companies
City utilities and rural cooperatives
Municipal and rural water systems
Electric, water and gas utilities interested in the latest in metering technology systems
Any company or contractor who utilizes filters and filtration systems

Plus, DSG is employee-owned. That means you are always working with an owner, and consequently, your success is recognized as the foundation of our own.

More information on Paul Kennedy (Member of the Corporate Board of Directors, AD + Member of the Divisional Board of Directors, Independent Electrical Supply Division (IESD), Electrical & Industrial Business Unit, AD + President and Chief Executive Officer, Dakota Supply Group (DSG) + Chair Elect & Board Member, NAED): See the full profile on EMR Executive Services

More information on The Portland Group: https://www.theportlandgroup.com/ + The Rose and Fox families began our company back in 1930, when Irving “Speed” Rose asked his good friend Benjamin Fox to help him expand his small hardware store on Portland Street in Boston. Pretty soon, it was a full-on family affair, with Benjamin bringing his three sons into the business, Dan, Perry and Paul, and Speed bringing in his three brothers, Harry, Al and Jack.

Today, four generations later, we’re still doing what our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents taught us to do—treat our employees like family, and every client like they were our own mothers. We think we’ve gotten pretty good at it. We hope you think so, too.

More information on Howard Rose (Former Co-Chairman, The Commonwealth Group (TCG) + Chief Executive Officer, The Portland Group): https://www.theportlandgroup.com/about-tpg-rpg/