In January 2006, Home Depot announced that it was acquiring Hughes Supply in a $3.2 billion deal.
In June 2007, Home Depot sold its supply unit for $10.3 billion to a consortium of three private equity firms, The Carlyle Group, Bain Capital and Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, each agreeing to buy a one-third stake in the division.
Hughes' major operation was in the southeast and southwest of the United States.
Its primary clients were professional customers, who mainly buy in bulk.
Using acquisitions to fuel its growth geographically and to expand its product breadth, in 2004 Hughes Supply acquired the Las Vegas-based Standard Wholesale (plumbing and electrical supplies), Todd Pipe & Supply (one of the largest independent plumbing supply wholesalers in the Las Vegas and southern California markets) and Southwest Power/Western States Electric (utilities).