Rexel — Capital/Financing Update 2012

Mar 16, 2012

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN AUSTRALIA, CANADA OR JAPAN

REXEL LAUNCHES \$300 MILLION NOTE OFFERING

Rexel announced today that it intends to offer \$300 million of senior unsecured notes maturing in 2019, market conditions permitting.

This new offering will allow Rexel to further enhance its financial flexibility and extend its debt maturity profile at affordable cost. The Notes will rank pari passu with Rexel's senior credit facility, 8.25% senior notes due 2016 and 7% senior notes due 2018.

Settlement and delivery is expected to take place on or around March 27, 2012.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN AUSTRALIA, CANADA OR JAPAN

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

FINANCIAL ANALYSTS / INVESTORS PRESS

+33 1 42 85 76 12 +33 1 42 85 76 28 mmaillet@rexel.com plinage@rexel.com +33 1 42 85 57 61 +33 1 53 96 83 92

Marc MAILLET Pénélope LINAGE-COHEN Florence MEILHAC Brunswick: Thomas KAMM fmeilhac@rexel.com tkamm@brunswickgroup.com

Rexel, a global leader in the distribution of electrical supplies, serves three main end markets: industrial, commercial and residential. The Group operates in 37 countries, with a network of some 2,100 branches, and employs over 28,000 people. Rexel's sales were €12.7 billion in 2011. Its majority shareholders are an investor group led by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Eurazeo and BAML Capital Partners.

Rexel is listed on the Eurolist market of Euronext Paris (compartment A, ticker RXL, ISIN code FR0010451203). It is integrated in the following indices: SBF 120, CAC Mid 100, CAC AllTrade, CAC AllShares, FTSE EuroMid, FTSE4Good and STOXX600.

For more information, visit Rexel's web site at www.rexel.com

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN AUSTRALIA, CANADA OR JAPAN

IMPORTANT NOTICE

No communication and no information in respect of the offering by Rexel of Notes (the "Notes") may be distributed to the public in any jurisdiction where a registration or approval is required. No steps have been or will be taken in any jurisdiction where such steps would be required. The offering or subscription of the Notes may be subject to specific legal or regulatory restrictions in certain jurisdictions. Rexel takes no responsibility for any violation of any such restrictions by any person.

This announcement is not a prospectus within the meaning of Directive 2003/71/EC of the European Parliament ant the Council of November 4th, 2003, as amended and as implemented respectively in each member State of the European Economic Area (the "Prospectus Directive").

This announcement does not, and shall not, in any circumstances constitute a public offering nor an invitation to the public in connection with any offer in any jurisdiction.

The offer and sale of the Notes in France will be carried out in accordance with article L. 411-2 of the French Monetary and Financial Code and the other applicable laws and regulations relating to qualified investors. There will be no public offering in France.

With respect to the member States of the European Economic Area, other than France, which have implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a "relevant member State"), no action has been undertaken or will be undertaken to make an offer to the public of the Notes requiring a publication of a prospectus in any relevant member State. As a result, the Notes may only be offered in relevant member States: (a) to qualified investors( as defined in the Prospectus Directive, including as amended by directive 2010/73/EU, to the extent that this amendment has been implemented by the relevant member State); or (b) in any other circumstances, not requiring the issuer to publish a prospectus as provided under article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive.

The distribution of this press release is not made, and has not been approved, by an "authorised person" within the meaning of Article 21(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. As a consequence, this press release is directed only at persons who (i) are located outside the United Kingdom, (ii) have professional experience in matters relating to investments and fall within Article 19(5) ("investment professionals") of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotions) Order 2005 (as amended), (iii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended) or (iv) are persons to whom this press release may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). The Notes are directed only at Relevant Persons and no invitation, offer or agreements to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire Notes may be proposed or made other than with Relevant Persons. Any person other than a Relevant Person may not act or rely on this document or any provision thereof. This press release is not a prospectus which has been approved by the Financial Services Authority or any other United Kingdom regulatory authority for the purposes of Section 85 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

The Notes are being offered in reliance on the accredited investor exemption in Canada. The Notes have not been and will not be qualified under the securities laws of Canada and may not be offered or sold in Canada without a prospectus or an applicable exemption from the prospectus requirements of Canadian securities legislation. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell nor the solicitation of an offer to buy, and any sale of any Notes in any jurisdiction in Canada in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction is prohibited.

This press release does not constitute or form a part of any offer or solicitation to purchase or subscribe for securities in the United States. The Notes have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as such term is defined by Regulation S under the Securities Act), except in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A under the Securities Act. Rexel does not intend to register any portion of the proposed offering in the United States nor to conduct a public offering of securities in the United States. This notice is issued pursuant to Rule 135c under the Securities Act.

The distribution of this document in certain countries may constitute a breach of applicable law. The information contained in this document does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan.

This press release may not be published, forwarded or distributed, directly or indirectly, in Australia, Canada or Japan.

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