PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights certain information appearing elsewhere in this document. This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before participating in the Exchange Offer. You should carefully read the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page 10 of this prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated or the context requires otherwise, references to “Anixter” are to Anixter Inc. and not to its subsidiaries, and references to “Anixter International,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer collectively to Anixter International and its subsidiaries including Anixter Inc.
Anixter International Inc.
Overview. Through Anixter Inc. and its subsidiaries, we are a leading distributor of network and security solutions, electrical and electronic solutions, and utility power solutions.
Through our global presence, technical expertise and supply chain solutions, we help our customers reduce the risk, cost and complexity of their supply chains. We add value to the distribution process by providing approximately 130,000 customers access to innovative inventory management programs, nearly 600,000 products and over $1.0 billion in inventory, 316 warehouses/branch locations with over 9 million square feet of space, and locations in over 300 cities across approximately 50 countries. We are a leader in providing advanced inventory management services including procurement,just-in-time delivery, material management programs,turn-key yard layout and management, quality assurance testing, component kit production, storm/event kitting, small component assembly ande-commerce and electronic data interchange to a broad spectrum of customers. Our differentiated operating model is premised on our belief that our customers and suppliers value a partner with consistent global product offerings, technical expertise (including product and application knowledge and support) and customized supply chain solutions, all supported by common business practices that ensure the same “look, touch and feel” worldwide.
Customers. Our customers are international, national, regional and local companies, covering a broad and diverse set of industry groups including manufacturing, resource extraction, telecommunications, internet service providers, finance, education, healthcare, retail, transportation, utilities (both public power and investor owned), defense and government; and include contractors, installers, system integrators, value-added resellers, architects, engineers and wholesale distributors. Our customer base is well-diversified with no single customer accounting for more than 2% of sales.
Business Segments and Products. We have identified Network & Security Solutions (“NSS”), Electrical & Electronic Solutions (“EES”) and Utility Power Solutions (“UPS”) as reportable segments. Within our segments, we are also organized by geographies. Our geographies consist of North America, which includes the U.S. and Canada, EMEA, which includes Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Emerging Markets, which includes Asia Pacific and Central and Latin America (“CALA”).
The NSS segment, with sales in approximately 55 countries, supplies products and customized Supply Chain Solutions to customers in a diverse range of industries including technology, finance, telecommunications service providers, transportation, education, government, healthcare and retail. The EES segment, with sales in approximately 40 countries, supplies a broad range of wire and cable, control, power/gear, lighting and core electrical products and customized supply chain solutions to the Commercial and Industrial (“C&I”) and Original Equipment Manufacturer (“OEM”) markets. The UPS segment, with primary operations in the U.S. and Canada, supplies electrical transmission and distribution products, power plant maintenance, repair and operations supplies and smart-grid products, and arranges materials management and procurement outsourcing for the power generation, power transmission and electricity distribution industries. The UPS segment serves the electric utility markets.