November 15, 2012 – Affiliated Distributors (AD)—a North American wholesale marketing/buying group—announced it has entered into a letter of intent to merge with Canadian electrical buying group, Independent Electrical Distributors (IED). The merger significantly strengthens the market position of electrical independents in Canada and commands 23% of the total market.

“AD’s model has always attracted market leaders and quality distributors,” shared Bill Weisberg, AD’s chair and CEO. “The merger with IED will strengthen the entire AD group and we are excited to welcome these great companies and people to the AD family.”

According to AD’s president of the Electrical Divisions, David Oldfather: “The synergy between the two groups is a natural fit as former IED members will have the opportunity to take advantage of increased earnings, cost reductions, access to AD’s financial tools, new marketing programs, best in class networking, and North American relationships.”

Jim Milne, current President of IED, will manage the newly combined Canadian group as AD’s President of the Canadian Division, reporting to David Oldfather. Milne states: “We’ve always had a great deal of respect for the AD Canada distributors and now that we have the opportunity to join into a single entity, the collective strength of this group will allow even further market penetration and growth beyond what would be possible by the two separate groups. As IED, we also bring to the group a long-standing, successful Customer Rewards Program, a well-known differentiator in the contractor community, and a proven way to gain and retain mindshare.”

Chris Scott will report to Milne and continue to support the Canadian Affiliates and Suppliers as the VP of AD Canada. Meantime, a reconstituted Canadian Divisional Board, made up of AD and former IED members, will make all Supplier- and Affiliate-related decisions.

AD’s Canadian Electrical Division, was formed in 1992 by a merger with Copel, a Canadian Electrical group and currently includes 16 distributors, representing 143 branch locations with a sales volume of about $750 million. The roots of IED go back to 1965. IED (less EECOL, which will operate outside of AD Canada, yet their volumes will be included in the combined group through 2013) currently consists of 36 companies with 90 branch locations and a reported volume of about $800 million, for a combined volume total for AD/IED of over $1.5 billion in Canada.