August 27, 2008

Graybar Sales Up 5.5% in First Half

Companies, Electrical, Free, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors / MDM Staff

Graybar, St. Louis, MO, distributor of electrical, telecommunications and networking products and related supply chain management and logistics services, reported a 5.5% increase in sales in the first half 2008 to $2.7 billion. Profit grew 19% to $47.4 million.

While the construction sector showed signs of weakness, strong performance in networking-related product sales coupled with continued growth in the overall communications and data market helped offset the construction market’s impact on growth, according to Graybar.

Graybar has more than 250 North American distribution facilities. …

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Anixter Acquires Two European Distributors

Companies, Electrical, Finance, Free, Mergers & Acquisitions, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors / MDM Staff

Anixter International Inc., Glenview, IL, distributor of communication products, electrical and electronic wire &cable, fasteners and other small parts, has acquired Sofrasar SA and partnership interests and shares in Camille Gergen GmbH &Co, KG and Camille Gergen Verwaltungs GmbH.

Sofrasar is headquartered in Sarreguemines, France, and Gergen is based in Dillingen, Germany. Both companies are fastener distributors.

Anixter is paying $40 million in cash and assuming $19 million in debt. The combined annualized sales for these businesses are expected to be more than $110 million in 2008.

The move is consistent with Anixter’s geographic expansion of its OEM Supply business in Europe. We have added another key building block that will drive future …

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Wholesale Trade: Productivity Rises 2.1% 2006-2007

Economic Trends, Free, News, Research & Analytics, Subscriber Only / MDM Staff

Labor productivity -defined as output per hour -increased in wholesale in 2007 by 2.1% from 2006 to 2007, according to a new report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Output per hour and unit labor costs increased as well.

Between 1987 and 2007, labor productivity in wholesale trade increased at a 3.3% average annual rate.

Output per hour grew in 12 of 19 detailed wholesale trade industries in 2007. Commercial equipment wholesalers experienced the largest productivity gain, 13.7 percent. Unit labor costs fell in seven of the 19 detailed industries, but rose 1.9 percent in wholesale trade overall.

From 1987 to 2007, labor productivity rose 3.3% per year in wholesale trade, on average. Output increased 4.1% per year and hours grew 0.7% per year. …

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Ryerson’s Journey with Platinum Equity

Finance, Free, Mergers & Acquisitions, Subscriber Only / MDM Staff

An article by Forward magazine (published by the Metals Service Center Institute) looked at Platinum Equity -a private equity firm relatively well-known in the distribution industry for its investment in Strategic Distribution and bid for Industrial Distribution Group. It also owns Ryerson Inc. and recently sold PNA Group to Reliance Steel and Aluminum. While much of the article is focused on how well Platinum has done in the metals industry and how its operating model is different from other private equity firms, it does provide a decent glimpse into how it approaches investments. For one, Platinum has tended to look at moves its makes much …

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August 27, 2008

Graybar Sales Up 5.5% in First Half

Anixter Acquires Two European Distributors

Wholesale Trade: Productivity Rises 2.1% 2006-2007

Ryerson’s Journey with Platinum Equity

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