The London-based Wolseley plc, parent company to Ferguson Enterprises (Newport News, Va.) and Familian Northwest (Portland, Ore.), signed a conditional contract to buy the plumbing, waterworks, refrigeration, HVAC, and industrial products distribution businesses of Rexel Canada (formerly Westburne).
Rexel S.A. (parent company to Rexel Canada) acquired those divisions with its acquisition of Westburne last fall. The sale of these divisions to Wolseley allows Rexel to focus on the remaining electrical distribution holdings of Westburne.
Paul Lachance, current general manager of the plumbing and waterworks business, will head up the Canadian operations of Rexel Canada/Westburne - Westburne Plumbing and Waterworks Inc., Westburne Refrigeration and HVAC Inc. and Westburne Industrial Products Inc. He will report to new Group CEO Charlie Banks, former CEO and president of Ferguson.
The U.S. operations of Westburne - Westburne Supply Inc. - will be fully integrated into Wolseley's existing U.S. plumbing operations over the next two years. This will enable synergies and cost saving to be achieved, which are expected to improve the performance of Westburne's U.S. businesses by the third year, the company stated.
