AURELIUS completes Exertis acquisition

The largest distribution sale of the year closes on an average Monday

DCC has wrapped up the sale of its Info Tech business in the UK and Ireland to Germany-based private equity investor Aurelius, closing a deal first announced in July.

The carve-out includes Exertis Supplies, Exertis Ireland, Macro EV, Exertis Supply Chain Services, MTR, Hypertec and Ztorm, essentially the bulk of DCC Technology’s IT distribution operations.

It’s now officially out the door, with the group confirming completion following regulatory sign-off.

For DCC, the sale is another milestone in its long-running mission to simplify and refocus.

The Dublin-listed giant said the disposal is a “material step” in its plan to streamline operations, boost shareholder value and concentrate resources on its energy division, now the company’s largest and highest-returning business.

Tim Griffin, CEO of Exertis IT (pictured), previously said the move sets the stage for new investment and momentum under Aurelius ownership.

“We are delighted to have found new owners who are committed to accelerating our growth and that of our partners,” he said.

“I firmly believe this sale positions Exertis IT for long-term success and provides greater opportunities for our vendors, customers and our people.”

Aurelius MD Andrzej Cebrat called the £2bn-revenue business an ideal fit for the investor’s operational-improvement playbook.

The firm plans to deploy its in-house WaterRise team to help “return Exertis to operational excellence and growth”.

DCC Technology CEO Clive Fitzharris told CRN earlier this year that slimming down the portfolio was about freeing the remaining businesses, including Hammer Distribution (formerly Exertis Enterprise, the division remains with DCC and has returned to its original brand) in the UK, and AV and infrastructure distributors such as Connect, Azenn, Amacom and AV DACH in Europe, to move faster.