Audax Private Equity Enters into Definitive Agreement to Sell GCG

The sale to Rexel caps a seven-year partnership in which GCG delivered double digit annual revenue growth since 2019 and increased both earnings and EBITDA margins significantly through the disciplined execution of the Audax Value AgendaTM.

BOSTON & CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Audax Private Equity (“Audax”), a capital partner for middle and lower middle market companies, announced today it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell GCG (“the Company”), a leading U.S. provider of specialty wire and cable, connectivity, power and engineered solutions for critical infrastructure applications. Rexel, a publicly held distributor of products and services in energy management, is acquiring GCG in a transaction expected to close by year end.

Headquartered in Chicago, Ill., GCG serves as a critical link between a fragmented supplier base and customers across the data centers, power & utilities infrastructure, grid modernization, communications, defense and other long-term growing markets. The company, with 2026 revenues on pace to exceed $1.1 billion, operates 16 global locations and has approximately 950 employees.

“The sale of GCG marks a tremendous outcome for the company, its employees, as well as our investors," noted Audax Private Equity Partner Don Bramley. "Glenn and the management team have proven to be exceptional partners whose vision, leadership and execution helped position GCG as a leader in its markets. This exit helps demonstrate the power of our Buy & Build strategy, coupled with the disciplined execution of the Audax Value Agenda, to grow and build strategic assets. We want to sincerely thank the management team and employees of GCG whose collaboration and dedication over the past seven years helped to underpin the company's transformation.”

Audax Private Equity first acquired GCG through a 2019 carveout of Genuine Parts Co.’s Electrical Specialties Group. Audax subsequently spun out GCG and EIS as two independent platform companies. EIS was sold to a financial buyer in 2024.

“Over the past several years, our team has transformed GCG into one of the leading platforms in our space serving some of the fastest-growing end markets in industrial distribution," added Glenn Pennycook, Chief Executive Officer of GCG. "Audax has been a thoughtful and collaborative partner throughout its ownership and brought insights and resources to bear that allowed GCG to pursue such an ambitious vision for growth. We're excited about what the future holds as we embark on our next chapter as part of Rexel.”

Since its original investment, Audax helped to put in place the company’s organizational and corporate infrastructure to support stand-alone operations, oversaw a Buy & Build initiative to complete 12 acquisitions, and worked with management to refine the company’s go-to-market strategy and sharpen its focus and value proposition around GCG’s core Specialty Wire and Cable business. In July of this year, GCG sold its Automation & Factory Solutions business to a strategic buyer.

The sale of GCG to Rexel represents the seventh realization either announced or completed by Audax Private Equity’s Flagship strategy in 2026, including recent sales of Flow Control Holdings, StatLab Medical Products, Harbourfront Wealth Group, FDH Aero, and Colony Hardware, among others.

“Our recent realizations reflect the rigor, resources and discipline we bring to executing the Audax Value Agenda,” said Young Lee, Partner and Co-President of Audax Private Equity. “Our systematic approach and depth of resources can also position us to drive durable growth through market cycles.”

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions.

Solomon Partners and J.P. Morgan served as financial advisors to GCG and Audax on the sale, while Kirkland & Ellis and Fredrikson & Byron provided legal counsel. Guggenheim Securities and Rothschild & Co. served as financial advisors to Rexel and Sidley Austin LLP served as legal advisor.

About Audax Private Equity
Headquartered in Boston, with offices in San Francisco, New York, London and Hong Kong, Audax Private Equity is a leading private equity platform focused on investing across the North American middle market. Our objective is to accelerate value creation through our Buy & Build strategy and the Audax Value Agenda™, a holistic framework that seeks to enable, create, and protect value across every stage of the investment lifecycle. As of July 2026, Audax Private Equity had approximately $20.1 billion of assets under management and, since inception in 1999, has invested in more than 180 platforms and more than 1,500 add-on acquisitions. For more information, visit www.audaxprivateequity.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

About GCG
GCG is a leading value-added provider of wire, cable, and connectivity solutions serving diverse markets.. With a comprehensive offering of premier brands and custom solutions, GCG is the preferred provider for original equipment manufacturers, contractors, installers, and other end users in attractive, mission critical markets. GCG generates over $1 billion in annual revenue with complete coverage of the US, Canada, Mexico and select EU markets via 16 facilities.

About Rexel group
Rexel, worldwide expert in the multichannel professional distribution of products and services for the energy world, addresses three main markets: residential, non-residential, and industrial. The Group supports its residential, non-residential, and industrial customers by providing a tailored and scalable range of products and services in energy management for construction, renovation, production, and maintenance. Rexel operates through a network of 1,876 branches in 17 countries, with 26,306 employees. The Group’s sales were €19.4 billion in 2025.

Rexel is listed on the Eurolist market of Euronext Paris (compartment A, ticker RXL, ISIN code FR0010451203). It is included in the following indices: MSCI World, CAC Next 20, SBF 120, CAC Large 60, CAC SBT 1.5 NR, CAC AllTrade, CAC AllShares, FTSE EuroMid, and STOXX600. Rexel is also part of the following SRI indices: FTSE4Good, Dow Jones Sustainability Index Europe, Euronext Sustainable Europe 120 and S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2025, in recognition of its performance in terms of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

For more information, visit www.rexel.com/en.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260925502196/en/

Media Contacts (Audax):
Gasthalter & Co.
(212) 257-4170
[email protected]

Source: Audax Private Equity

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