CED Acquires Amperage, Acquisition #22 Since July

Amperage Electrical Supply became the 22nd electrical distributor to be sold since July.

The $100+ million dollar Chicago-based distributor was acquired by CED (Consolidated Electrical Distributors), which, according to local sources, now makes CED the largest contractor-focused electrical distributor in the Chicagoland market.

Amperage, an Eaton distributor, was ranked as the 86th largest distributor in the US according to the 2021 Electrical Wholesaling Top 150. The company is an IMARK Electrical member and, based upon precedent, will most likely remain in IMARK similar to some other CED companies.

Amperage’s core market segment is small to mid-sized electrical contractors. While CED has other profit centers under the Efengee Electrical brand supported by over 500,000 square feet of warehouse space and under the CED umbrella (Naperville), Tinley Park and Crystal Lake.

It is not unusual for CED to operate multiple profit centers in the same market focused on different market segments.

Amperage, in CED fashion, will continue to operate under its own name and be supported by CED for operational activities. Its former owner, Vito Pelagio, will remain with the company and operate Amperage hence there will be, essentially, no change in operations. Congratulations to Vito.

While CED is always considering acquisitions, the company continues to opportunistically open profit centers. Reportedly the company opened a location in Minneapolis and is being welcomed into the community as an “independent” given its operational model where the PC manager is empowered to make decisions. While years ago Minneapolis has a plethora of independent distributors, with consolidation there are now very few, if any.

Again, congratulations to CED on its acquisition of Amperage and to Vito on a successful exit where he is still able to lead his team and bring them new opportunities.