# The AD Story Since our founding in 1981, hundreds of strong independents and leading manufacturers have joined AD to achieve accelerated growth, increased profitability and ensure their continued independence. AD has also grown through numerous mergers with other buying groups to more efficiently achieve common objectives and through the entrepreneurial spirit of forward thinking independents who joined together to form new AD Divisions within their industry and country. At AD we believe that as strong as we each are on our own, together we are stronger. Together, we win. View Timeline 2026 The Commonwealth Group (TCG) joins AD to expand AD’s existing PHCP Divisions and form the Waterworks Division  2024 AD & IMARK Electrical merge to form the Independent Electrical Supply Division (IESD)  2024 The Edge Group joins AD to expand Electrical – U.S.  2023 The Baron Group joins AD to expand AD PVF.  2022 TORBSA joins AD to form AD Canada – Building Supplies.  2021 Delta Distributors LLC joins AD to expand AD PVF.  2021 Safety Network joins AD to form AD Safety Network.  2019 The Drake Group joins AD to expand AD Building Materials.  2019 IDI joins AD to form AD Canada Industrial & Safety.  2019 IDC-USA joins AD to expand AD Bearings & Power Transmission.  2017 19 Decorative Brands Distributors form AD Decorative Brands.  2016 The Canaplus Limited Partnership Group joins AD to form AD Canada Plumbing & Heating.  2015 27 Bearings & PT Distributors join AD to form AD Bearings & Power Transmission.  2014 7 Mexican Electrical Distributors join AD to form AD Mexico.  2012 The Independent Electrical Distributors group joins AD.  2008 The AMAROK Drywall Cooperative joins AD.  2006 The HVAC Group joins AD.  2001 The C. L. Watt group joins AD to form AD Plumbing.  2000 The I.D. One group joins AD Industrial.  1999 AD launches National Accounts company, supplyFORCE.  1995 12 Pipe, Valves & Fittings distributors join AD to form AD PVF.  1994 25 General Line Industrial Supply distributors join AD to form AD Industrial.  1993 The Copel group joins AD to form AD Canada.  1981 48 Electrical distributors join AD to form AD Electrical.  ## Cumulative Growth & Annual Sales\* ## AD vs. US GDP AD US GDP 0 % 10 % 20 % 30 % 40 % 50 % 60 % 70 % 80 % 90 % 100 % 110 % 120 % 130 % 140 % 150 % 160 % 170 % 180 % 190 % 200 % 210 % 220 % 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 $ 32 Billion $ 34 Billion $ 37 Billion $ 41 Billion $ 46 Billion $ 45 Billion $ 58 Billion $ 70 Billion $ 75 Billion $ 83 Billion $ 100 Billion \* 2025 results do not include the impact of The Commonwealth Group (TCG) merger.