Franklin Empire to acquire O’Neil Electric Supply

Eastern Canada-based independent electrical distributor Franklin Empire has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Ontario’s O’Neil Electric Supply.

Franklin Empire and O’Neil are both family-owned private businesses that share Affiliated Distributors (AD) membership, with the combined business to retain O’Neil’s strong teams and local expertise, said a press release.

“This acquisition marks a very exciting time in Franklin Empire’s history. The cultural alignment between the Backman family and O’Neil family is an excellent fit,” said Franklin Empire co-president Cliff Backman. “We are so happy that O’Neil will remain a part of an independent distributor within the AD community. Together, this will allow us to offer even more complementary solutions and services to our customers while serving broader markets across Ontario.”

Both companies bring a combined 145 years of experience in Eastern Canada’s electrical sector.

Franklin Empire was founded in 1942, and is comprised of 600 employees across its 23 branches and five assembly and repair shops in both Ontario and Quebec. Since its founding in 1965, O’Neil Electric has grown to a team of roughly 150 employees and operates three branches across Ontario.