Anixter International Inc. Announces Sale of Aerospace Division to Greenbriar Equity

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August 16, 2011
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Anixter International Inc. Announces Sale of Aerospace Division to Greenbriar Equity

GLENVIEW, Ill., Aug. 16, 2011/PRNewswire/ -- Anixter International Inc. (NYSE: AXE), a leading global distributor of communication and security products, electrical and electronic wire & cable,  fasteners  and  other  small  parts,  today  announced  that  it  has  entered  into  a definitive  agreement  to  sell  its  Aerospace  Hardware  Division  to  entities  controlled  by Greenbriar  Equity Group  LLC.  Under  the  terms  of  the  agreement  Anixter  will  receive $155 million in cash, subject to a net working capital adjustment, and up to an additional $30  million  if  certain  milestones  are  achieved  on  or  before  December  31,  2013.  The transaction  is  expected  to  be  completed  during  the  third  quarter  subject  to  regulatory approval and customary closing conditions.

Commenting on the transaction, Robert Eck, President and CEO of Anixter, stated, "We believe this transaction is a positive development for all parties involved, as it captures what  we  view  as  a  fair  value  for  the  Aerospace  Hardware  Division  and  enables  us  to focus  our  attention  and  resources  on  our  core  operations  and  strategic  initiatives.  Our performance  in  Aerospace  Hardware  has  been  strong  since  first  entering  the  business through  our  2002  Pentacon  acquisition,  having  achieved  first  half  2011  revenues  of approximately  $94.1  million  and  EBITDA  of  $12.0  million.  However,  customer  and supplier consolidation has resulted in a business model that is distinctly different than our overall  model.  Despite  the  fact  that  Aerospace  has  historically  delivered  operating margins  in  excess  of  our  corporate  average,  current  high  working  capital  requirements have impacted its return on tangible capital compared to our other businesses; therefore this division is no longer strategically aligned with our overall business." Eck continued, "Given Greenbriar's significant focus in the aerospace sector, we are confident it will be a strong and supportive partner for the aerospace business and build upon its solid market position under new ownership."

Noah  Roy,  Managing  Director  of  Greenbriar,  stated,  "We  believe  that  this  transaction will  enable  the  employees  of  the  Aerospace  Hardware  Division  to  continue  to  provide outstanding service and supply chain value to their customers, the majority of which are the  world's  leading  aerospace  manufacturers.  We  look  forward  to  partnering  with  the current management team to  grow the business  and invest in the future  success of this Division."

In the third  quarter  of 2011, Anixter will report the results of this business as "Discontinued Operations" and all prior periods will be restated to reflect this classification.

Mr. Eck concluded, "Anixter  has successfully evolved its business for more than 50 years, and we will continue to focus our efforts toward those areas that fully leverage our operating platform and drive profitable growth. The sale of the aerospace business reinforces our commitment to invest  in our core business and will enable us to better direct resources toward areas that will maximize shareholder value in both the near term and the long term, including potential share repurchases, further  reducing  borrowings, and making strategic acquisitions as market opportunities arise."

About Anixter

Anixter International is a leading global distributor of communication and security products, electrical and electronic wire & cable, fasteners and other small parts.  The company adds value to the distribution process by providing its customers access to 1) innovative  inventory  management  programs;  2)  more  than  450,000  products  and  over $1.0 billion  in inventory; 3) 231 warehouses with approximately 7 million square feet of space; and 4) locations in 269 cities in 51 countries. Founded in 1957 and headquartered near Chicago, Anixter trades on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AXE.

Additional information about Anixter is available on the Internet at http://www.anixter.com

About Greenbriar Equity Group

Greenbriar  Equity  Group  LLC,  a  private  equity  firm  with  $1.5  billion  of  committed capital, focuses exclusively on the global transportation industry, including companies in aerospace and defense, freight and passenger transport, automotive, logistics, and related sectors. Greenbriar invests with  proven management teams who are interested in being significant equity owners in their companies as well as with corporate partners who are interested in raising capital. Greenbriar's partners bring many decades of  experience at the  highest  levels  within  the  transportation  industry. Additional  information  may  be found at http://www.greenbriarequity.com.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

    AT THE COMPANY:          AT FD:             FOR GREENBRIAR EQUITY:
    Ted Dosch                Chris Kettmann     Nathan Riggs
    Chief Financial Officer  Investor Inquiries Kekst & Company
    (224) 521-4281           (312) 553-6716     (212) 521-4804

SOURCE  Anixter International Inc.

Anixter International Inc.

Web Site: http://www.anixter.com

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