Electrical supplies distributor Rexel, Paris, France, reported third-quarter sales of €3.2 billion (US$4.4 billion), up 5.6 percent over the same period a year ago. Organic same-day sales increased 7.5 percent. Profit grew 12.6 percent to €84.8 million (US$115.3 million).

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For the first nine months of 2011, sales were €9.4 billion (US$12.8 billion), up 6.7 percent year-over-year. Organic same-day sales increased 6.6 percent. Profit grew 54.2 percent to €258.5 million (US$351.4 million).

Sales in Europe (59% of group sales) increased 6.5 percent in the third quarter on a constant and same-day basis. Sales were up 5.9 percent in the first nine months.

In North America (28% of group sales), sales were up 9.8 percent in the quarter and up 8.6 percent for the first nine months on a constant and same-day basis. In the U.S., third-quarter sales were up 9.2 percent. Canadian third-quarter sales increased 11.2 percent.

Rexel Holdings USA, which includes Rexel and Gexpro, is No. 3 on MDM’s list of top electrical distributors.

Organic sales in Asia-Pacific (10% of group sales) grew 7.3 percent in the third quarter and 6.9 percent in the nine-month period.

Latin America (2 percent of group sales) posted organic sales gains of 3.2 percent and 16.4 percent for the third quarter and nine-month period, respectively.

Rexel recently completed two acquisitions. In September, the company acquired a 70 percent stake in Inoheva, a French company specializing in energy audits, thermal evaluations and software development related to energy efficiency.

In October, Rexel entered the Peruvian market with the acquisition of V&F Technologia, a distributor of electrical supplies based in Lima.