Nexans to acquire Republic Wire, strengthening its aluminium and copper wire foothold in the United States

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All the share capital of Republic Wire, Inc., a manufacturer of aluminium and copper wire with headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been acquired by Nexans, a global leader in electrification, driving the energy transition with innovative solutions that power a safer, sustainable, and connected future.

Republic Wire, Inc., founded in 1982 and family-owned, have emerged as a leading manufacturer of low-voltage wiring products, catering to electrical wholesale distributors, utilities, and municipalities throughout the US and Canada. In the year that ended in February 2026, the firm made a total revenue of USD 5,617.3 million.

Additionally, the firm attained a fully operational industrial platform, which included a 32,500 square metre manufacturing facility and is heavily automated. Alongside this, the firm also has a 30 thousand square meter warehouse and distribution centre. The firm employs 200 skilled associates and it is on the road to complete a major expansion program, which is said to be fully operational by the end of 2026, boosting its total production capacity by nearly 30 per cent.

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The strategy behind the acquisition

The acquisition is an extended plan of Nexans for broadening its presence in the US, which is not only one of the largest markets globally but also one of the fastest-growing for low- and medium-voltage cables. As of now, the US's low-voltage sector is said to be valued at USD 12.96 billion due to the rising demand in residential, commercial and data centre developments.

This blends with Nexans’ strategic goals, enabling them to create a more extensive manufacturing and distribution network in the rapidly growing US market. With this acquisition, the firm's recent purchase of Electro Cables in Canada is properly complemented and it further opens access to the residential and commercial markets through Republic Wire’s robust network of sales agents and distributors.

Additionally, this creates global distributor connections for the firm with a wider range of complementary products in other high-growth areas, including data centres. This also allows the firm to create a foundation boosting future growth, both organic and via acquisitions within the US, unlocking long-term benefits as well as regional growth.

With the completion of this acquisition, the firm expects in the run-rate synergies within three years to generate nearly USD 250 million. This is possible because of the commercial cross-selling opportunities, Nexans’ proprietary manufacturing technology use and larger-scale purchasing, shared manufacturing and optimised operations for improved efficiencies.

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Reflecting on the financials of the firm

The deal's total enterprise valuation is deemed to be nearly USD 734 million with an additional earn-out of up to USD 46 million, which will be paid in 2028 after evaluating the performance through the end of 2027. The current management team, headed by Ron and Jeremy Rosenbeck, will remain as part of the board to push the business forward.

The enterprise value reflects multiples of 10.3x the 2027E Adjusted EBITDA before synergies and 7.6x after accounting for run-rate synergies, according to the terms of the deal. However, there is a possibility that the transaction structure may provide tax advantages to Nexans over time.

A mix of debt and existing cash on the balance sheet will finance the deal, along with the pro forma net leverage, which is expected to increase by 1.2x Net Debt to 2025 Adjusted EBITDA, before dropping back down to comfortably below 1.0x through quick deleveraging by the end of 2028, in line with the Group’s careful financial strategy.

The transaction is anticipated to be immediately accretive to EPS before synergies, with synergies expected to hit a full run-rate of USD 25 million over three years, which is said to be about 50 per cent of which is projected to be realised in the first year. On the other hand, the implementation costs are estimated to be around USD 25 million.

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Acquisition: Relevant approvals and timeline

In Q3 2026, the transaction for the deal is expected to be completed, including the pending usual regulatory approvals and other standard closing conditions. Post this, Republic Wire's skilled management team will keep pushing the business, which will also be backed by an earn-out structure, aiming to align the smooth transition of ownership and relevant interests. Nexans plans to keep Republic Wire’s operations running at its current facilities in Ohio and make the most of the combined platform to enhance its activities throughout the United States.

Chief Executive Officer of Nexans, Julien Hueber, stated, "The acquisition of Republic Wire marks a transformative moment in Nexans' journey to become a reference pure player in electrification. The United States represents the single largest growth opportunity in low‑ and medium‑voltage cable, within a premium business segment where quality and reliability drive sales. Republic Wire gives us the expanded platform, the customer relationships and the operational credibility we need to compete in this highly dynamic market. Combined with our recent complementary acquisition of Electro Cables in Canada, we are building an integrated North American business, expanding our industrial footprint in the Americas and reinforcing our positioning in high-growth segments such as data centres, that will serve as a growth engine for the Group for years to come. We are delighted to welcome the Republic Wire team and look forward to creating value together."

On the other hand, Managing Director North America of Nexans, Tim King, stated, "The acquisition of Republic Wire represents an important strategic milestone, meaningfully strengthening our position in the North American market. As a highly respected brand with a proven track record of exceptional quality and customer centricity, Republic Wire brings deep market relationships and an extensive commercial network and strong industrial footprint that significantly enhances our ability to serve customers and partners."

Alongside these, the CEO of Republic Wire, Ron Rosenbeck, commented, "Republic Wire has always been more than a business to our family – it is a legacy built on hard work, loyalty, and a deep responsibility to our customers and the people who chose to build their careers here. In Nexans, I found a partner who shares those values, not just a buyer. I take real comfort knowing the culture of respect, dedication and quality products we worked so hard to build will be in good hands as we move forward together. Our management team and I will remain actively involved going forward, and I couldn't be more proud of what we have built together or more excited about what this partnership will mean for everyone who calls Republic Wire home."

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