CD&R-backed White Cap agrees to buy Gierke Robinson

White Cap, the North American construction-supplies distributor backed by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, has agreed to acquire Gierke Robinson Company Inc., PE Hub reported. The target is a Davenport, Iowa-based distributor serving concrete, paving and general contractors across eastern Iowa, western Illinois and southwest Wisconsin.

PE Hub did not report the financial terms of the transaction or provide a closing timetable. The report also did not identify any financing arrangements, advisers or regulatory conditions tied to the deal.

The transaction adds a long-established regional distributor to White Cap’s network. According to PE Hub, Gierke Robinson was founded in 1919, giving the business more than a century of operating history in its local contractor markets.

White Cap operates about 575 branches across North America, PE Hub reported. For a distributor of construction and concrete-related products, branch density matters because contractors typically rely on local inventory, delivery availability and product knowledge tied to project schedules.

Regional distribution focus

Gierke Robinson’s customer base spans concrete, paving and general contractors, according to PE Hub. Those buyers typically require access to materials and related supplies across multiple phases of commercial, infrastructure and building projects.

In distribution deals of this type, the strategic logic often rests on adding local customer relationships, supplier access and branch coverage to a larger operating platform. PE Hub reported the agreed acquisition but did not provide comments from White Cap, Gierke Robinson or Clayton, Dubilier & Rice.

Clayton, Dubilier & Rice is identified by PE Hub as White Cap’s backer. The acquisition fits a broader pattern in building-products and construction-supply distribution, where scale can support purchasing breadth, logistics and service coverage, though PE Hub did not characterize White Cap’s acquisition strategy or disclose expected integration plans.

Because the reported deal terms were not disclosed, the implied valuation, revenue contribution and earnings impact cannot be assessed from the information available. PE Hub’s report establishes the key transaction facts: White Cap has agreed to acquire Gierke Robinson, the target is based in Davenport, and the business serves contractor customers across parts of Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin.

This story draws on original reporting from PE Hub.