Jason Sandefur

Touting a strong backlog to begin 2008, Anixter International Inc. reported sales, including fasteners, rose 19% to a record $5.85 billion in 2007. Operating income gained 30% to $439.1 million, and net profit grew 21% to $253.5 million.
Full-year sales in North America climbed 13.7% to $4.1 billion, while operating income increased 25% to $345 million. Sales in Europe during 2007 jumped 30% to $1.27 billion, with operating income soaring 63% to $60.6 million. And emerging markets in Asia and Latin America produced sales gains of 36% to $472.2 million, while operating income grew 42% to $33.5 million.
During the fourth quarter of 2007 overall Anixter sales rose 15% to $1.49 billion. Operating income increased 27% to $114.4 million and Q4 net profit improved 34% to $70.5 million.
In 2007 Anixter acquired aerospace fastener distributor Eurofast SAS from Lisi SA for $27 million. The move came weeks after Anixter bought UK-based fastener distributor Total Supply Solutions Ltd. for $8 million in cash and assumption of debt. Web: anixter.com �2008 FastenerNews.com