Sonepar Boosts Presence in Latin America with Acquisitions in Colombia and Costa Rica

Global electrical distribution powerhouse Sonepar SA, Paris, moved to expand its role in Central and South America’s developing economies this week. Information on the Sonepar website announced that IESA, San José, Costa Rica, and Melexa, Bogota, Colombia, have joined Sonepar. As a result of these two acquisitions Sonepar now operates in a total of 40 different countries.

Founded in 1975 in San José, IESA (Instalación Eléctrica SA) is the number-two provider of electrical supplies in the Costa Rican market, with annual sales of €18 million (approximately US$24.5 million) and a staff of 110. IESA serves electrical installers and construction contractors through five branches supplied by a central warehouse. As is typical with Sonepar’s acquisitions, IESA founder Francisco Morice Rodriguez and CEO Rodrigo Esquivel Mora will be staying on to contribute to the future growth of IESA.

Melexa, the number-one provider of electrical supplies in Colombia with annual sales of €80 million (approximately US$108.7 million), covers the country with eight branches, and recently opened another one in Panama. As a Rockwell distributor, Melexa supplies industrial customers, resellers, and installers with cable, industrial automation and datacom products and solutions. Other lines highlighted on the company’s website include Eaton/Cooper Industries, Hoffman, Siemens, Legrand and Belden. Ricardo, Eduardo and Arturo Rodriguez Mutis (CEO, CFO and CIO, respectively) and their 330 associates will now be able to leverage Sonepar’s international strength to accelerate their business growth in Colombia, Sonepar said.

These two acquisitions follow the company’s recent purchases of MGM Electric in Canada and Interstate in Malaysia.