Rexel buys GE Supply, a unit of General Electric, for $725 million
GE Supply will operate in the United States through a dual-banner strategy, serving an expanded customer base with a much larger product offering and reinforced network density. GE Supply will report to Dick Waterman, president and CEO of the newly created Rexel U.S. holding group.
USESI buys Wiedenbach-Brown
U.S. Electrical Services LLC (USESI), Chester Springs, Pa., the company run by Richard Worthy, purchased Wiedenbach-Brown Co. Inc. (WB). Headquartered in Westchester County, N.Y., WB has offices in Hicksville, New Rochelle and Hawthorne, New York; Boston; Columbus, Ohio; Kansas City, Mo.; Los Angeles; and Seattle. WB will retain its name and operations. The current management team, including owners Christopher Brown, Elisabeth Brown-Daley, and James Leahy, president of WB, will remain with the company.
Mayer Electric Supply to buy Jones & Lee Supply
Mayer Electric Supply Co. Inc., Birmingham, Ala., agreed to buy Jones & Lee Supply of Knoxville, Tenn. Jones & Lee was founded in 1948 and remains a family business. There are no immediate plans to change the name of the company.
Bridgeport Fittings buys Regal name and assets
Bridgeport Fittings Inc., Stratford, Conn., purchased the “Regal” name and specific manufacturing equipment used to produce fittings from Regal Fittings Inc., City of Industry, Calif. Paul Suzio, president and chief operating officer of Bridgeport Fittings, said the company would manufacture just one line of fittings under the Bridgeport name. He also said one set of manufacturers' representatives will continue to market Bridgeport Fittings' products.
Royal Philips Electronics acquires The Bodine Co.
Royal Philips Electronics has acquired The Bodine Co., a Collierville, Tenn.-based manufacturer of emergency ballasts. Bodine will be fully integrated as a business unit within Philips Lighting, but its commercial activities will continue to operate under the Bodine structure. Bodine's revenue totaled $30 million in 2005.