Sonepar Expands Global Reach with New Acquisitions in Germany and Australia

Sonepar SA, Paris, France, the largest electrical distributor in the world, has been investing quite a bit lately in new geographic expansion. Following recent acquisitions in Canada and Latin America, the company announced over the past couple of weeks that distributors in Australia and central Germany have joined the group.

This week, Sonepar said its German division, Sonepar Deutschland, acquired a sizable distributor based in Germany’s central region, BTF-Group. Sonepar called the company a well-known player in the German market and said it generated annual sales of €50 million (about $68.2 million).

BTF-Group was started in 1945, and now consists of three companies: BTF, with eight branches, of which six branches are located north of Frankfurt; HEG, also north of Frankfurt; and Bähr, based in Mannheim, which covers the area south of Frankfurt.

Sonepar said BTF has specialties in market segments including health care facilities and manufacturers of pre-fabricated housing. BTF General Manager and Co-Owner Christof Bonn will stay as an advisor supporting BTF’s Georg Tatje and Heiko Schäfer to enhance Sonepar’s market position in central Germany.

In another deal, on June 30 the company announced on its website that it planned to purchase the shares of Electrical Distributors of Western Australia (ED), effective July 1. The announcement said: “ED was founded by John Moore and Greg Jones in 1988 and has grown to become the leading electrical material distributor in Western Australia, with 14 branches across the state and a very strong coverage in Perth and the surrounding area with total sales of AUS$65 million (€45 million), closing June 2014.

“ED has been a key supplier to electrical contractors across the state, in the residential, commercial and mining sectors for the past 26 years and has developed a strong foundation based upon consistent customer service through passionate and dedicated associates.

“Sonepar is pleased to welcome John Moore, General Manager, along with the 95 associates from ED, and looks forward to be able to continue to build on the long [history] of this company in Australia.”