Create a free Manufacturing.net account to continue

Wolseley Expands Industrial Business: Buys Two More Distributors

Worldwide distributor Wolseley plc, based in Reading, UK itsexpansion into the industrial market and buys two more distributors.

Compiled from Ferguson Enterprises’ and Industrial Distribution web sites

Wolseley plc, a worldwide distributor of heating and plumbing supplies, based in Reading, UK, said it plans on expanding its business into the industrial market. The decision, the company claimed, is in response to a impending housing bubble threatening in both the United States and Europe. Its American subsidiary, Ferguson Enterprises, acquired Mobile Supply Co., Inc., a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning distributor with branches in Mobile, AL and Pensacola, FL. The company had sales of $12.3 million in the year ended Oct. 31, 2004.

In Europe, the $19.8-8 bln distributor bought MSCO, a merchant based in the southwest of France. The company had sales of 3.7 million euro in the year ended Nov. 30, 2004, according to Wolseley. The deal is expected to close on Dec. 1.

These two acquisitions make a total of  17 acquisitions in North America and Europe since the beginning of its fiscal year on August 1.

In October, Wolseley bought insulation distributor Encon, from 3i. With a network of 22 branches, Encon holds an 11% share of the insulation market. Also in October, Ferguson acquired Camellia Valley Supply (CVS), a waterworks wholesaler based in Sacramento, CA, from Pacific Coast Supply, LLC. The acquisition of CVS strengthens Ferguson's waterworks position in Northern California, adding three new locations and expanding its customer base.

More