What Distribution Solutions Group does

Distribution Solutions Group (DSG) is a publicly traded specialty distribution company (NASDAQ: DSGR) that provides high-touch, value-added distribution solutions across three end markets: Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) through Lawson Products and related brands (Partsmaster, Bolt Supply House, Kent Automotive); Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) supply chain services through Gexpro Services, which delivers vendor-managed inventory, kitting, strategic sourcing, and global logistics for blue-chip manufacturers; and industrial technologies/electronic test and measurement through TestEquity and its brands (Techni-Tool, Jensen), serving aerospace, defense, automotive, electronics, medical, and education industries. The company also operates a Canadian Branch business including the Source Atlantic Mobile Valve platform. DSG was formed April 1, 2022 through the strategic combination of Lawson Products, Gexpro Services, and TestEquity, and is controlled by LKCM Headwater Investments (approximately 78.7% beneficial ownership as of March 2026), which submitted a $29.50 per share take-private proposal in March 2026.

DSG serves 120,000+ long-standing customers globally with more than 3,000 employees, shipping from strategically located distribution and service centers across North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and the Middle East. The business operates a decentralized model where each operating subsidiary maintains autonomous sales channels and leadership while DSG provides centralized capital allocation and selective G&A consolidation. Revenue model is primarily transactional distribution (one-time product sales) supplemented by managed services revenue from Gexpro Services' embedded supply chain engagements. Technology investments include AI-enabled ecommerce platforms (Lawson Products achieved approximately 18% revenue growth through ecommerce in Q4 2025), route optimization tools for field sales teams, robotic automation at Gexpro Services, and ERP consolidation across TestEquity.

DSG reported FY2025 revenue of $1.98 billion (up 9.8% from $1.80B in FY2024) and Q1 2026 revenue of $496.0 million (up 3.8% YoY). The company carries a $700 million term loan and $400 million revolving credit facility through 2030 to support both organic growth and continued M&A. Active inorganic growth was demonstrated by the March 2026 acquisition of Eastern Valve & Control Specialties (CAD$17 million revenue) and the prior 2023 acquisition of Hisco (approximately $269 million). The company faces near-term headwinds including a 26.3% stock price decline following Q4 2025 results and multiple securities fraud investigations announced in March 2026.

Name

Distribution Solutions Group

Legal name

Distribution Solutions Group, Inc.

Website

https://distributionsolutionsgroup.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Distribution Solutions Group is a multi-platform specialty distribution company serving MRO, OEM, and industrial technology markets through three operating subsidiaries (Lawson Products, Gexpro Services, TestEquity), serving 120,000+ customers globally with $1.98 billion in FY2025 revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Industrial Distribution

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Distribution Management System (DMS) Software (EUADAEAB)

Keywords

• Specialty industrial distribution
• MRO parts distribution
• OEM supply chain services
• Electronic test equipment
• Vendor-managed inventory

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Lawson Products Distribution: Lawson Products sells and distributes specialty products to the industrial, commercial, institutional and government MRO markets through multiple brands including Lawson Products, Partsmaster, Bolt Supply House, and Kent Automotive in the U.S. and Canada
2. Gexpro Services Supply Chain Solutions: Gexpro Services is a leading global supply chain solutions and mission-critical C-parts provider lowering total cost of production for blue-chip manufacturing customers through vendor-managed inventory, kitting, strategic sourcing and global logistics
3. TestEquity Electronic Test & Measurement: TestEquity is the largest, most comprehensive provider of test solutions supporting aerospace, defense, automotive, electronics, education, and medical industries through brands TestEquity, Techni-Tool, and Jensen

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Distribution Solutions Group (DSG) is a specialty distribution company providing high-touch, value-added distribution solutions to the Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO), Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), and industrial technologies markets. The company operates through three core platforms: Lawson Products (MRO and C-parts distribution), Gexpro Services (global supply chain solutions and mission-critical C-parts to OEM manufacturers), and TestEquity (electronic test and measurement solutions), serving 120,000+ customers across industrial, commercial, institutional, and government end markets.

Product overview

Distribution Solutions Group operates as a multi-platform specialty distribution company with three core operating companies: Lawson Products (MRO and C-parts distribution through Partsmaster, Bolt Supply House, and Kent Automotive brands), Gexpro Services (global supply chain and C-parts solutions for OEMs), and TestEquity (electronic test and measurement solutions through TestEquity, Techni-Tool, and Jensen brands). The company serves 120,000+ customers across diverse end markets including industrial, commercial, institutional, government MRO, OEM, and industrial technologies. Geographic operations span North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and the Middle East. The Canadian Branch Business includes the Source Atlantic Mobile Valve platform, which was expanded through the acquisition of Eastern Valve & Control Specialties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lawson Products: MRO and C-parts distribution brand serving industrial, commercial, institutional and government markets through multiple divisions including Partsmaster, Bolt Supply House, and Kent Automotive
• Gexpro Services
• TestEquity
• Source Atlantic

Products and services

• Lawson Products MRO and C-parts distribution business serving industrial, commercial, institutional, and government markets through brands including Lawson Products, Partsmaster, Bolt Supply House, and Kent Automotive in the U.S. and Canada. Helps customers lower total cost of operation by increasing productivity and efficiency.
• Gexpro Services Global supply chain solutions and mission-critical C-parts provider offering vendor-managed inventory, kitting, strategic sourcing, and global logistics to OEM manufacturing customers. Lowers total cost of production for blue-chip manufacturers.
• TestEquity Electronic test and measurement solutions provider serving aerospace, defense, automotive, electronics, education, and medical industries through the TestEquity, Techni-Tool, and Jensen brands. Stocks components to help design and build electronics.
• Source Atlantic Mobile Valve Platform Canadian mobile valve platform providing industrial valve products and flow control solutions serving Atlantic Canada industrial markets.

Quantifiable outcome

• 38.1% annual revenue growth over four years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Eastern Valve & Control Specialties Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 March 2026Eastern Valve & Control Specialties Ltd., founded in 2002 and headquartered in Paradise, Newfoundland, was acquired by DSG. The company generates approximately CAD$17 million in annual revenues and will be integrated into DSG's Source Atlantic division under its Canadian Branch, immediately enhancing the Mobile Valve platform's margins and geographic footprint in Atlantic Canada. The acquisition was funded through DSG's existing cash and credit facility.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• W.W. Grainger: Largest U.S. MRO industrial distributor with a comparable high-touch, value-added distribution model across maintenance, repair, and operations customers. CEO of Lawson Products (Cesar Lanuza) is a former senior executive at Grainger, signaling direct competitive overlap in core MRO end markets.
• MSC Industrial Direct: U.S. MRO specialty distributor serving metalworking, industrial, and safety markets with a comparable direct-sales and ecommerce go-to-market. Closely comparable to Lawson Products in customer base, supplier relationships, and value-added service model.
• Fastenal Company: Largest fastener and MRO distributor in North America with a strong field-sales and onsite-vending model. Comparable to DSG on MRO end markets, decentralized operating structure, and the use of technology (vending, onsite) to deepen customer penetration.
• Rexel: Global electrical and industrial distribution specialist. Gexpro Services' CEO Robert Connors is a former Rexel Holdings USA executive, and Rexel's C-parts and supply-chain services are directly comparable to Gexpro's OEM mission-critical C-parts business.
• Global Industrial Company: Value-added industrial and MRO distributor with strong ecommerce orientation. Barry Litwin, now CEO of TestEquity, was previously CEO of Global Industrial, making it a directly comparable peer in industrial-tech distribution and digital GTM.
• Applied Industrial Technologies: Industrial distributor focused on bearings, power transmission, fluid power, and MRO products with a comparable mix of field sales, service centers, and ecommerce. Closely comparable to Lawson Products in product breadth and customer mix in industrial MRO.
• Kaman Corporation: Specialty industrial distribution business (Kaman Industrial Technologies) serving MRO and OEM customers, providing a comparable specialty-distribution platform with a similar focus on mission-critical components and aftermarket services.

Broad incumbents

• Genuine Parts Company: Diversified specialty distributor (NAPA Auto Parts, Motion Industrial) with overlapping MRO and industrial product offerings. Larger and broader than DSG, but the Motion Industrial segment is a direct comparable to Lawson Products and Gexpro Services.
• WESCO International: Major electrical, communications, and utility distributor with a meaningful MRO and OEM supply-chain solutions business. Comparable to DSG in end markets (electrical, industrial) and in providing value-added supply-chain services to OEMs.

Others

• HEICO: Aerospace and electronics specialist supplying parts and components to aerospace and defense OEMs. Not a distributor, but a relevant ecosystem peer given TestEquity's deep aerospace and defense customer overlap and DSG's stated mission-critical C-parts positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/distribution-solutions-trading-dmcc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Distribution Solutions Group