Legrand (company)

Legrand S.A.
Company type	Public (formerly private equity owned)
Industry	Electrical equipment, digital building infrastructure
Founded	1865; 161 years ago in Limoges, France
Founder	Frédéric Legrand (name adopted 1904)
Headquarters	Limoges, France
Area served	Worldwide (operations in 90 countries, products in 180 countries)
Key people	Angeles Garcia-Poveda (Chair of the Board), Benoît Coquart (General Director)
Products	Electrical wiring devices, cable management systems, lighting management, EV charging stations, data center infrastructure, smart home technology
Website	www.legrandgroup.com/en

Legrand S.A. is an industrial conglomerate headquartered in Limoges, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.

With operations spanning 90 countries and product availability in almost 180 nations, Legrand generates 85% of its revenue from international markets. The group has broadened its portfolio to encompass sustainable development initiatives and energy-efficient technologies, as well as innovative solutions for electric vehicle (EV) charging, lighting management, and data center infrastructure.

Origins

Legrand’s beginnings date back to 1865 when a porcelain workshop was established in the Limousin region near Limoges, initially specializing in porcelain tableware. The company adopted the Legrand name in 1904 after Frédéric Legrand assumed control. By 1919, it had formed a partnership with Jean Mondot, who produced electric switches crafted from porcelain and boxwood.

The firm gradually shifted focus towards electrical components, exploiting porcelain’s insulating qualities before plastics became widespread. Following a factory fire in 1949, Legrand concentrated exclusively on manufacturing electrical wiring devices such as switches and sockets. It later diversified into protection equipment (including fuse-holders and circuit breakers), cable management systems (trunking), and emergency lighting solutions.

Having completed over 100 strategic acquisitions, Legrand has transformed into a leading global producer of electrical and digital building infrastructure products, offering more than 300,000 items. As of 2021, it maintains operations in 90 countries with sales extending to 180 markets.

International expansion in the latter half of the 20th century

1966: Opened its first subsidiary beyond France in Belgium.

1970: Became publicly traded on the Paris stock exchange.

1977: Entered markets outside Europe by acquiring Pial in Brazil.

1980: Acquired Fluvent (specializing in plugs and sockets) from GEC in Liverpool, UK; manufacturing was relocated to Milton Keynes.

1984: Entered the United States market through the acquisition of Pass & Seymour.

1989: Purchased Bticino, Italy's foremost electrical equipment manufacturer.

1996: Expanded via acquisitions including Fael (Poland), Luminex (Colombia), MDS (India), and WattStopper (US).

1998: Acquired Ortronics, a US leader in structured cabling and Voice Data Image (VDI) systems.

2000: Bought Wiremold in the US, doubling its American footprint; also acquired Horton Controls (integrated into WattStopper), along with Quintela and Tegui in Spain.

Schneider-Legrand merger attempt

2001: The proposed merger between Schneider Electric and Legrand was blocked by Brussels authorities.

Global growth in the 21st century

2003: Private equity firms Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) and Wendel Investissement took full ownership of Legrand, resulting in its delisting from public stock exchanges.

2005: Acquired ICM Group (brands KZ and Cablofil), a worldwide leader in wire mesh cable tray systems.

2006: Strengthened presence in China by purchasing TCL China’s electrical wiring division and Shidean, a prominent audio/video door entry manufacturer. Also acquired US-based lighting control specialist Vantage Controls. KKR and Wendel retained majority stakes while minority shareholders reduced holdings to 35%, enhancing share liquidity.

2007: Expanded through multiple acquisitions including HPM (Australia), Kontaktor (Russia), MACSE (Mexico), UStec (US), TCL Wuxi (China), and Alpes Technologies (France).

2008: Added to portfolio with acquisitions such as PW Industries (US cable trays), HDL (Brazilian residential access control), Estap (Turkish VDI enclosures), and Electrak (UK ground-laid cable trays). KKR and Wendel renewed shareholder agreement until 2012 amid takeover speculations.

2009: Despite a 15.6% revenue decline to €3.6 billion due to economic downturn, Legrand maintained an operating margin of 17.6%. Recovery anticipated towards late 2010.

2010:

Revenues increased by 8.7%, operating income surged by 35.5%, net income grew by 44.3% reaching €418.3 million; operating margin rose to 20.2%.
Formed EV PLUG alliance with Schneider Electric and Scame to standardize EV charging infrastructure across Europe.
Completed acquisitions in Turkey (Inform), India (IndoAsian Switchgear), and Italy (Meta System Energy).

2011: Strengthened digital infrastructure offerings by acquiring US companies Electrorack and Middle Atlantic Products; also purchased Spanish firm Neat.

2012: Expanded uninterruptible power supply capabilities by acquiring Numeric Power Systems’ UPS division.

2013: Added French Intervox and UK-based Tynetec—specialists in assisted living technologies—and established a partnership with Henry Becquerel High School.

2014: Reached agreement to acquire Lastar, Inc., a US cabling and connectivity supplier generating $140 million annually with global operations.

2015: Legrand North America acquired Raritan Inc.; invested in French IoT startup Netatmo, enhancing smart home product range which achieved nearly €45 million revenue by 2017.

2017: Purchased Milestone AV, a US manufacturer of AV racks and mounts, alongside Server Technology to broaden data center solutions portfolio.

2018: Acquisitions included Shenzhen Clever Electronic Co Ltd; merged with Netatmo; secured majority ownership of Debflex, a French electrical equipment manufacturer.

2019: Added Connectrac (floor cable management), American Universal Electric Corporation (US data center power systems), and Jobo Smartech (Chinese connected hotel controls) to its portfolio.

2020: Acquired Chicago-based architectural lighting firm Focal Point LLC; expanded smart home offerings through Netatmo technologies; completed full acquisition of Italian UPS provider Borri.

2021: Purchased Ensto Building Systems (Finland), Champion One (optical networking components), Compose (passive data communication products), Borri UPS systems, and Czech company Emos. Despite raw material supply constraints, Legrand achieved record performance in Data Center, Connected Products, and Energy Efficiency segments. Launched "Legrand Care" brand focused on Assisted Living and Healthcare solutions. Collaborated with CEA Grenoble on wireless battery-free connected switches. Announced repurchase of 450,000 shares.

In 2022, Legrand enhanced its data center sector presence by acquiring UK cooling specialist USystems and French electrical power company Voltadis. It committed to energy reduction goals through the EcoWatt charter alongside Réseau de Transport d'Électricité. Other acquisitions included German connector expert A & H Meyer, British Power Control, and Canadian lighting controls provider Encelium. The company reported a net income increase of 16.1% during the first nine months of the year.

Unsuccessful Acquisition Attempt by Schneider Electric

In 2001, Schneider Electric initiated a friendly bid to acquire Legrand, securing nearly 98.1% ownership of the company. Although met with resistance from minority investors and Legrand's management, the European Commission blocked the transaction due to antitrust concerns. Consequently, Schneider Electric was compelled to divest its shares, which were subsequently purchased by private equity firms Wendel Investissement and KKR.

Recent Chief Executive Officers

François Grappotte (born 1936, Reims): Served as CEO from 1983 until 2006; has held the title of honorary chairman since 2006.
In 2007, Legrand welcomed Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise (then CEO of Groupe SEB) and Gérard Lamarche (CFO of Groupe Suez) onto its board of directors.
Gilles Schnepp (born 1958, Lyon): Held the roles of President and CEO between 2006 and 2018, then served as president until 2020; joined Legrand in 1989 with a business degree; previously vice president at Merrill Lynch France; appointed vice-chairman at Groupe PSA in 2019.
Benoît Coquart (born 1973): Assumed the position of general director in February 2018; joined the company in 1997; has been a board member since 2010.

Board Chair

Since July 1, 2020, Angeles Garcia-Poveda has led Legrand’s Board of Directors as chairperson.

Financial Overview

Revenue and Profit Data (€ millions)
Year	2019	2020	2021	2022	–	Revenue	6,600	///	6,990	8,340	–	Net Profit	834	904	1,434	999.5

Offerings and Solutions

Legrand provides an extensive catalog exceeding 300,000 items spanning approximately one hundred product categories.

Beginning in 2010, the company broadened its portfolio beyond traditional electrical building equipment to include electric vehicle charging stations and solutions aimed at enhancing energy efficiency.

Its home automation range incorporates integrated Netatmo technology, allowing users to remotely manage electrical devices and heating systems.

Internet of Things and Smart Home

Legrand emphasizes IoT and smart home technologies, launching a connected door product line in 2016. At CES 2020, it unveiled advanced energy-efficient smart home solutions, underscoring its commitment to intelligent building innovation.

Data Center and IT Infrastructure

The company addresses data center needs by offering products such as Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) systems and Power Distribution Units (PDUs), essential for managing critical IT operations.

Headquarters and Manufacturing Facilities

Legrand maintains eight manufacturing plants situated near its main office in Limoges (Haute-Vienne), France. Additionally, in 2012, it opened two training centers in the Paris area to enhance employee skills development.

Principal Competitors

External Links

French company acquires Dayton-area business
Official website: Group Legrand (English)