The Sterling Group adds Iowa company to growing construction supply base

Construction workers work on the penthouses at 3433 Westheimer Road, photographed on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, in Houston. ( Elizabeth Conley / Houston Chronicle ) Construction workers work on the penthouses at 3433 Westheimer Road, photographed on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, in Houston. ( Elizabeth Conley / Houston Chronicle ) Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Staff Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Staff Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close The Sterling Group adds Iowa company to growing construction supply base 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Private equity firm The Sterling Group continues to build its holdings of construction supply firms with the acquisition of a Midwest distributor.

Des Moines, Iowa-based Stetson Building Products is the third company in Construction Supply Holdings, the company formed by Houston-based Sterling. Stetson distributes construction building products to architects, engineers, contractors and building owners from a base of 10 locations across Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin, according to the company's website.

Marte Cook, president of Stetson, said in a statement that the acquisition helps the company meet its goals of being a "best-in-class distribution business."

"The opportunity to join forces with Brock White and Border made Sterling the ideal partner for the next phase of our company's growth," Cook said.

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Stetson joins Arizona-based Border Construction Specialties and Minnesota-based Brock White, which Sterling acquired in November.

Sterling's combined construction supply company has a network of 750 employees in 48 locations that serve about 25,000 customers.