Legrand makes biggest Australian acquisition since HPM in 2007

Following its recent acquisition of VASS Electrical Industries, French-based electrical equipment company Legrand has announced that it will double its size in Australia after buying Australian Plastic Profiles (APP) for an undisclosed sum.

The acquisition is its largest in Australia since HPM in 2007, said Legrand, and follows the buyouts of southwest Sydney-based busway power distribution company VASS in June and New Zealand cable management specialist Mechanical Support Systems (MSS) in December.

Legrand ANZ CEO Palash Nandy said in a statement on Wednesday that buying APP demonstrated their ambitions in the Australian and New Zealand markets and provided a product range complementary to their own. 

“…[T]his allows both companies to benefit from compelling business synergies, in addition to providing an enhanced suite of solutions that improve lives for our customers,” added Nandy. 

“Investing in a company whose products are fundamental to the electrical and plumbing infrastructure of any building, enables Legrand to have more balance between residential and non-residential business.

Legrand said APP is the leading supplier of PVC conduits in Australia across electrical and plumbing, with sales of almost $170 million in FY24. It operates two brands — AussieDuct for electrical and Pipe King for plumbing — and specialises in PVC extrusion and injection moulding.

APP’s headcount is nearly 250 nationally, with manufacturing at Caringbah in southern Sydney and seven warehouses around the country.

Managing Director John Hills said his company would “benefit from [Legrand’s] international footprint, robust investment in research and development, and strong industry presence. Legrand shares our focus and commitment to providing products and solutions that add value for our customers.”

Legrand Australia distributes electrical and digital infrastructure solutions under six brands, with manufacturing at their site at Prestons representing 40 per cent of local revenue. Its parent company is listed on Euronext Paris and reported revenues of €8.4 billion (about $13.9 billion) in 2023

Picture: supplied

Further reading

Legrand acquires VASS, cites booming data centre market

Legrand is competitive with local manufacture – why not others?

Legrand launches new range of smart electrical switches