Exertis UK went into administration on Friday, according to a note on its website.
The £1.4bn-revenue distributor in December announced plans to reduce headcount by over 90%, a month after it was bought by international private equity house AURELIUS.
It emerged from a 45-day consultation in late January, vowing to become a “specialist, independent distributor” focused on retail.
But less than two months later, Exertis UK kicked off a second staff consultation process with all remaining staff, we learned.
A note on its website read:
Please note that Martin Armstrong and Andrew Bailey of Turpin Barker Armstrong, together with James Hopkirk of Kreston Reeves, were appointed as Joint Administrators of Exertis (UK) Ltd on 29 May 2026. The affairs, business and property of Exertis (UK) Ltd are being managed by the Joint Administrators, who act as agents of the Company and contract without personal liability.
The move comes after a last-gasp effort to sell Exertis UK’s 3PL business failed, one insider claimed.
IT Channel Oxygen understands that around 70 staff remain on the payroll.
According to its latest filed accounts, Exertis UK saw turnover fall 8% to £1.43bn in its year to 31 March 2025. Net losses widened to £47.9m. It ranked fourth in IT Channel Oxygen’s recent 50 Must-Know UK IT Distributors and Marketplaces.
AURELIUS declined to comment
IT Channel Oxygen has approached Turpin Barker Armstrong and Kreston Reeves for comment, and will update accordingly.
Doug Woodburn is editor of IT Channel Oxygen
