News of Lowe's impending staffing changes and layoffs got a lot of attention this past week, while Fastenal's Q4 earnings and another acquisition of a well-known toolmaker also drove traffic.
Here's this week's Top 5
Report - Lowe's To Implement Staffing Changes, Layoffs: Though the layoffs would impact less than 1 percent of Lowe's total workforce, reports say the company is altering the roles and responsibilities of other employees to increase productivity.
Fastenal Q4 Sales, Profit Rise As Store Closures Continue: Continued strong growth in Fastenal's vending business powered a strong finish to 2016, even as store closures continued to far outpace openings.
Atlas Copco Splitting Into Two Companies: Atlas Copco intends to split into two listed companies, one focused on industrial customers and the other focused on mining/civil engineering customers.
KKR To Buy Hitachi Power Tools Unit For $1.3 Billion: It's the latest major deal in a flurry of activity in the industrial tools market, as Hitachi has been making power tools for more than 50 years and has about nine manufacturing plants throughout the world.
2016 - Another Active Year For Industrial Distribution M&A: HT Capital Advisors senior managing director C.A. "Burke" Burkhardt recaps many of the largest industrial distribution transactions in 2016 and discusses their market impact.
