Brightstar Capital Announces Acquisition of Majority Stake in MHG

Brightstar Capital Partners announced on October 20, 2026, that it had acquired a majority stake in Material Handling Group (MHG), a technician-led provider of material handling equipment and aftermarket services. The private equity investment is intended to support further growth at the equipment dealer, while Roger Runyan will continue to lead the business as CEO.

Founded in 1938, MHG operates brands including Buffalo Lift Trucks. Its offering spans new and used equipment, rentals, and aftermarket parts, giving the investment a scope that extends beyond equipment sales.

That mix of activities helps explain the operational significance of the transaction. Growth could come through several connected channels: equipment purchases, temporary rental requirements, and parts demand from customers maintaining existing fleets. If the investment supports expansion across those activities, its effects could reach both the equipment business and the services that support customers after a sale. The stated growth objective, however, does not establish which areas will receive priority.

Runyan's continued leadership provides management continuity alongside the change in majority ownership. For customers, the practical questions will concern any subsequent changes in equipment availability, rental capacity, parts supply, and service support. Those outcomes will depend on how MHG puts the investment to work; the acquisition itself does not establish improvements in availability or service performance.

Further details about MHG's investment priorities would help show whether growth will focus on equipment sales, rental operations, aftermarket support, or a combination of these activities. For now, the clearest development is a new majority investor backing the dealer's growth ambitions, with its existing CEO remaining in charge.