Stuart C. Irby Co., one of the nation's oldest and largest electrical distributorships, was sold to Sonepar USA, a subsidiary of Sonepar Group, a privately held, French electrical distributor. The acquisition gives Sonepar USA an entry into the utility market sector, as well as an opportunity to expand its presence throughout the south central region of the country, according to a company statement. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

Irby is one of the largest and most widely recognized electrical products distributors in the United States, selling electrical and related products to the utility, commercial, contractor and industrial markets in the South and Northeast. Prior to the sale, Irby had been family-owned since its establishment 79 years ago.

Sonepar USA, the seventh largest electrical distributor in the United States, operates on the East Coast, West Coast and in the Midwest, and reports annual sales close to $2 billion. With the Irby acquisition, Sonepar USA becomes the fifth largest electrical distributor in the country. Parent company Sonepar, with headquarters in Paris, specializes in cables and wiring, trunking, fittings, HVAC and lighting. Sonepar's operations stretch across 29 countries on four continents, and generate more than $8.4 billion.