Rexel

Rexel is a French multinational business-to-business distributor specializing in electrical equipment and technical solutions. Its customers include electrical contractors, installers, industrial companies, commercial and residential developers, infrastructure operators and other professional buyers. The company supplies products used to generate, distribute, protect, connect, control and consume electricity, while also providing services intended to support design, installation, commissioning, maintenance and energy management. The group traces its history to the Compagnie de Distribution de Matériel Électrique, or CDME, created in 1967 by Compagnie Lebon through the combination of four businesses: Revimex, Facen, Sotel and Lienard-Soval. CDME expanded through acquisitions of regional electrical distributors in France and subsequently entered a range of overseas markets. Its early diversification included professional electronics, computing and industrial supplies, although the group later concentrated on electrical distribution. The Rexel name was adopted in 1993 after CDME joined forces with Groupelec Distribution. Rexel developed from a predominantly French distributor into an international platform through expansion in Europe, the United States, Canada, China and other markets. A major turning point came in 2005, when the Pinault group sold the company to an investment consortium led by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Eurazeo and Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity. Rexel returned to the Paris market in 2007. Its 2006 acquisition of GE Supply, subsequently renamed Gexpro, strengthened the company in North America and industrial accounts. The 2008 acquisition of most of Hagemeyer's European assets substantially expanded its European branch network and country coverage. The group has continued to reshape its portfolio through acquisitions, disposals and strategic refocusing. It expanded in Brazil, India, China and Peru during the early 2010s, later withdrew from or sold several Latin American, eastern European and Southeast Asian activities, and focused resources on selected markets and business segments. In the United States, acquisitions including Platt Electric Supply, Munro Distributing and Mayer increased its reach among electrical, industrial and commercial customers. Rexel also developed capabilities in software, connected buildings, energy efficiency and electric-vehicle charging through investments and acquisitions such as Esabora, Freshmile Services and a minority interest in Trace Software International. Rexel's product range includes cables and conductors, circuit protection, switchgear, wiring devices, cable management, lighting, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment, motors, industrial automation products, communication infrastructure, building controls and renewable-energy solutions. Its services cover technical advice, training, project support, energy audits, maintenance assistance, commissioning, recycling and waste collection. Digital commerce and data are central to its customer proposition, including online purchasing, technical documentation, design tools, personalized pricing and site-management applications. The company serves residential, commercial or tertiary, industrial and infrastructure markets. It positions itself less as a simple wholesaler than as a technical distribution and services partner that helps customers improve installation productivity, safety, connectivity, energy efficiency and access to electrification technologies. Rexel remains headquartered in France, operates through a multi-country network of branches and digital channels, and is listed on Euronext Paris.

Rexel's corporate history begins in 1967, when Compagnie Lebon created the Compagnie de Distribution de Matériel Électrique, known as CDME. The new company resulted from the merger of Revimex, Facen, Sotel and Lienard-Soval and focused on distributing electrical equipment. CDME built its French position through the acquisition of regional family-owned distributors and gradually developed a national branch network. During the late 1970s, CDME diversified into professional electronics, computing and industrial supplies. It also began international expansion in the 1980s, establishing or acquiring activities in markets including Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, Portugal, the Benelux, West Germany, Singapore and Canada. CDME entered the United States in 1986. In 1987, Compagnie Française de l'Afrique Occidentale became its principal shareholder. The Pinault group acquired CDME in December 1990. In 1993, after a combination with Groupelec Distribution, the group adopted the Rexel name. Through the 1990s it increasingly refocused on electrical equipment distribution, disposing of most professional-electronics interests and separating from its industrial-supplies subsidiary. International subsidiaries progressively adopted the Rexel identity, including the former Willcox and Gibbs business in the United States and a consolidated Italian organization created in 2000. Pinault-Printemps-Redoute announced the sale of Rexel in 2005. The transaction was completed on March 16, 2005, when a consortium including Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Eurazeo and Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity acquired the company. Rexel was delisted from the Paris Stock Exchange in April of that year. The group then pursued a combination of portfolio disposals and targeted acquisitions. Its 2006 purchase of GE Supply, renamed Gexpro, strengthened Rexel's position in North America and expanded its services for major industrial customers. In 2007, Rexel worked with Sonepar on a joint offer for Hagemeyer. Rexel also changed its legal form and returned to Euronext Paris on April 4, 2007. In 2008, it acquired most of Hagemeyer's European assets, including businesses in Scandinavia, Spain and the United Kingdom. This materially enlarged the European network and introduced Rexel to additional countries. The company pursued emerging-market expansion during the early 2010s, acquiring businesses in China, Brazil, India and Peru. It acquired Delamano and Etil in Brazil, and bought Platt Electric Supply and Munro Distributing in the United States. In 2012, Rudy Provoost became chairman of the management board and Rexel launched the Energy in Motion program, placing customer needs at the center of its strategic agenda. In 2013, the Rexel Foundation was established to address energy poverty. Rexel broadened its technical and digital capabilities through the 2014 acquisition of Esabora, a software publisher whose tools supported electrical contractors with commercial, administrative and technical workflows. It acquired Sofinther in 2015 to strengthen its French multi-energy position. The group subsequently sold its Latin American businesses, disposed of operations in Poland, Slovakia and the Baltic countries to Würth, and acquired Brohl & Appell in the United States for industrial automation and maintenance, repair and operations services. In 2016, Patrick Berard became chief executive and Ian Meakins became chairman of the board. A 2017 strategic plan emphasized selected countries and attractive segments, including digital transformation and connected electrical products. Rexel sold its Southeast Asian activities in 2017. In 2020, it separated from Gexpro Services to concentrate on core electrical distribution in the United States and on developing a data-driven model. The company also joined the Hi! Paris research and teaching initiative focused on artificial intelligence and data science. Rexel expanded its electrification and electromobility capabilities in 2021. It acquired the Canadian operations of Wesco International, announced the acquisition of Freshmile Services, took a minority interest in Trace Software International and completed the acquisition of Mayer in the United States. Freshmile added charging-station operation, monitoring and software capabilities, while Trace Software complemented electrical-design tools. Mayer added a substantial eastern-U.S. branch network and industrial customer base. Guillaume Texier became chief executive in September 2021. Agnès Touraine became chairwoman of the board in 2023. Today, Rexel operates as a professional distribution and services group rather than a conventional consumer brand. Its strategy is tied to electrification, energy efficiency, connected buildings, industrial automation, digital procurement and electric mobility. The company combines physical branches, logistics, technical expertise and digital platforms to serve contractors and industrial or commercial customers across its international markets.

• 2023

  Agnès Touraine becomes board chairwoman

  [2]Rexel Group Governancerexel.com

  Agnès Touraine is appointed chairwoman of Rexel's board of directors.

• 2021

  Rexel expands in electromobility and North America

  [1]Rexelen.wikipedia.org

  The group adds Freshmile, a stake in Trace Software International, Canadian Wesco operations and the Mayer electrical distribution business.

• 2020

  Gexpro Services is divested

  [1]Rexelen.wikipedia.org

  Rexel separates from Gexpro Services to focus on electrical distribution and digital transformation.

• 2016

  Governance roles are separated

  [1]Rexelen.wikipedia.org

  The group separates the positions of board chairman and chief executive officer.

• 2014

  Esabora is acquired

  [1]Rexelen.wikipedia.org

  Rexel acquires Esabora to strengthen digital tools for electrical contractors and professional customers.

• 2013

  Rexel Foundation is created

  [1]Rexelen.wikipedia.org

  The foundation is established to use Rexel's expertise in addressing energy poverty.

• 2008

  Hagemeyer European assets are acquired

  [1]Rexelen.wikipedia.org

  Rexel acquires most of Hagemeyer's European activities, significantly increasing its continental European scale.

• 2007

  Rexel returns to Euronext Paris

  [1]Rexelen.wikipedia.org

  Rexel becomes a French public limited company and is listed again on Euronext Paris.

• 2006

  GE Supply is acquired

  [1]Rexelen.wikipedia.org

  Rexel acquires GE Supply in the United States and renames it Gexpro.

• 2005

  Rexel is sold and delisted

  [1]Rexelen.wikipedia.org

  An investment consortium acquires Rexel and the company is delisted from the Paris Stock Exchange.

• 1993

  The Rexel name is adopted

  [1]Rexelen.wikipedia.org

  Following its combination with Groupelec Distribution, CDME takes the Rexel name.

• 1983

  CDME joins the Paris unlisted securities market

  [1]Rexelen.wikipedia.org

  CDME begins trading on the Paris unlisted market as its French and international distribution activities expand.

• 1967

  CDME is created

  [1]Rexelen.wikipedia.org

  Compagnie Lebon creates the Compagnie de Distribution de Matériel Électrique through the combination of Revimex, Facen, Sotel and Lienard-Soval.

A technical, multi-specialist distributor serving professional electrical, industrial, building-services and energy-transition markets.

• Electrical equipment

  Electrical distribution and protection

  Rexel distributes equipment used in low- and medium-voltage electrical installations, including circuit breakers, fuses, switchgear, contactors, meters, protection devices and related accessories. These products support safe distribution and control of electricity in buildings, industrial facilities and infrastructure projects.

• Electrical installation

  Wiring and cable management

  The range includes wires, cables, conduits, cable trays, trunking, connection products and installation accessories. Rexel supplies these components to contractors and industrial customers for power, communications, control and building-infrastructure installations.

• Building equipment

  Lighting and building services

  Rexel markets lighting equipment together with heating, ventilation and air-conditioning products. Its offering is intended for residential, commercial and industrial projects, with an increasing emphasis on efficient lighting, controls and systems that reduce energy consumption.

• Industrial automation

  Industrial automation and MRO

  Through its industrial businesses and acquisitions, Rexel supplies motors, automation components, control systems and maintenance, repair and operations products. These solutions support industrial processes, plant maintenance and infrastructure projects.

• Building automation

  Connected buildings and energy management

  The group offers connected electrical products, building-management equipment and smart-home or smart-building solutions. Its digital proposition includes technical design, configuration, purchasing and remote diagnostic capabilities for connected installations.

• Energy transition

  Renewable energy and electric mobility

  Rexel distributes products associated with energy transition, including solar equipment, heat pumps, energy-efficient motors, solar water-heating systems and electric-vehicle charging infrastructure. Its Freshmile-related activities added charging-station operation, monitoring and software capabilities.

• Professional software · 2014

  Esabora digital solutions

  Esabora provides cloud-based tools for electrical contractors and other professional customers. The capabilities described for the platform include technical studies, 3D and BIM-related work, site management, personalized pricing, administration and online order monitoring.

• 2012Energy in Motion

  International

  Rexel launched Energy in Motion as a strategic program centered on customer needs and the evolution of electrical distribution, including energy efficiency and changing installation technologies.

  Outcome. Provided a framework for customer-centric strategy and later emphasis on electrification and digital services.

  Source

• 2024

  Rejection of a reported QXO approachM&A

  Background

  QXO reportedly explored acquiring Rexel as part of its building-materials expansion.

  Action taken

  Rexel declined the reported acquisition approach.

  Aftermath

  Rexel remained an independent publicly listed company.

  Source

• 2021

  Expansion in electromobility and North AmericaM&A

  Background

  Rexel identified electric mobility, software and North American electrical distribution as strategic growth areas.

  Action taken

  The group acquired Freshmile Services, invested in Trace Software International, acquired Canadian Wesco operations and completed the purchase of Mayer.

  Aftermath

  The transactions broadened Rexel's charging, software, industrial and U.S. distribution capabilities.

  Source

• 2020

  Focus on core U.S. electrical distributionStrategy

  Background

  Rexel reviewed its portfolio to concentrate resources on electrical distribution and digital transformation.

  Action taken

  The group separated from Gexpro Services and reaffirmed a data-driven operating model.

  Aftermath

  Rexel continued investing in digital platforms, connected sites and electrification-related services.

  Source

• 2017

  Strategic refocusing on selected markets and digital transformationStrategy

  Background

  Rexel sought to improve organic growth by concentrating on countries and customer segments with stronger prospects.

  Action taken

  The group emphasized digital transformation, connected objects and selected markets, while continuing to dispose of less central activities.

  Aftermath

  The strategy reinforced Rexel's focus on core electrical distribution and data-enabled customer services.

  Source

• 2007

  Joint offer for HagemeyerM&A

  Background

  Hagemeyer was a major international electrical distributor and a significant potential addition to Rexel's European footprint.

  Action taken

  Rexel partnered with Sonepar on an offer for Hagemeyer and subsequently acquired most of Hagemeyer's European assets.

  Aftermath

  The 2008 transaction expanded Rexel's European network and country coverage.

  Source

• 2005

  Sale to an investment consortiumM&A

  Background

  Pinault-Printemps-Redoute decided to sell Rexel as part of a broader portfolio change.

  Action taken

  A consortium including Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Eurazeo and Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity acquired the company, followed by its delisting from the Paris market.

  Aftermath

  Rexel pursued portfolio restructuring, acquisitions and a later return to public trading.

  Source

1. 1Rexelen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Rexel Group Governancerexel.com
3. 3Rexel Official Websiterexel.com
4. 4Rejection of a reported QXO approachreuters.com