MIAMI (October 15, 2026) – Holland & Knight represented Miami-based Watsco Inc. (NYSE: WSO), the largest distributor of air conditioning, heating and refrigeration (HVAC/R) equipment and supplies in North America, in its acquisition of The Granite Group, a diversified distributor of plumbing and HVAC products with approximately $500 million in sales, from BBH Capital Partners, a private equity firm. The transaction closed on October 9.
Watsco's partnership with The Granite Group adds scale, density and product diversification, as well as deepens Watsco's market position in the growing plumbing space – a large and fragmented market that represents compelling avenues for expansion. Headquartered in Concord, New Hampshire, The Granite Group is a third-generation, family-led distributor serving customers across New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New York.
This is the second large transaction on which Holland & Knight has supported Watsco this year and the 12th transaction on which current Holland & Knight attorneys have counseled the company. In June, Holland & Knight advised on Watsco's acquisition of Jackson Supply Company, a market-leading HVAC distributor with annualized sales of approximately $230 million across 25 Sunbelt locations.
Holland & Knight's representation of Watsco was led by Partners Mike Miller and Julie Blackmore, with support from Associates Madeleine Williams and Matthew Forcino (M&A). They received support from a team of more than 20 Firm attorneys spanning more than 10 offices around the country, including Partner Brandon Bloom and Associates Sanaa Ghanim and Courtney Wagner (Tax); Partner Lindsay Murphy and Associate Avery Ozimek (Executive Compensation & Benefits); Partners John Dierking and David Kully and Senior Counsel Ryan Kocse (Antitrust); Partner Emmett Weindruch and Associate Forrest Tinnin (Intellectual Property); Partners Alex Selarnick and Marc Druckman (Insurance); Partner Nathan Mitchell and Associate Jina Shin (International Trade); Partner Christine Gay and Associate Lee Sands (Labor & Employment); Partner Brian Cary and Associate Conner Timoney (Real Estate); and Partner Jameson Rice (Transportation Regulatory).
More information on the transaction can be found here.
Recently recognized as the Private Equity Law Firm of the Year by the Global M&A Network and M&A Law Firm of the Year by M&A Advisor, Holland & Knight regularly ranks among the leading M&A and private equity law firms in reputable, benchmarking league tables published by Bloomberg, LSEG, Mergermarket, PitchBook and The Deal. Through the HK Deal Flow℠ program, Holland & Knight facilitates deal leads for clients and prospective clients by matching acquisition or capital raising opportunities with buyers and investors.