Rexel expands global reach in BRIC countries

In most discussions of high-growth developing markets, the BRIC countries are often mentioned as the key markets. Brazil, Russia, India and China have demographic power and huge emerging middle-class populations hungry for infrastructure and technology – cars, appliances and the rest of the conveniences of modern life in the industrialized world.

Clearly the BRIC countries have been on the mind of Rexel, Paris, France. The global electrical distribution giant nailed three-quarters of a grand slam over the past couple of weeks with announcements of acquisitions in three of the four BRIC markets.

The company bought Nortel Suprimentos Industriais, which allows Rexel to enter the Brazilian market with one of the top-three national electrical distributors in an otherwise heavily fragmented market. When complete, the acquisition will give Rexel a leadership position in the state of São Paulo, the richest and the most populous Brazilian state, accounting for one-third of Brazil's GDP and 22 percent of the nation's population.

Rexel also made its first move into the massive markets of India with the purchase of Yantra Automation in Pune, India, with branch offices in Mumbai, Vapi and Baroda. Yantra is a Rockwell Automation distributor with a strong engineering emphasis in western India's automation and control market.

In China, Rexel acquired Beijing Lucky Well Zhineng, a family-owned electrical distributor focused on the industrial automation market, strengthening Rexel's existing footprint in China, especially in Beijing and Tianjin provinces.