Key Points
- Exertis UK went into administration on Friday, 29 May 2026, confirmed by a notice on its company website
- Joint Administrators appointed: 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
- The distributor had £1.4bn–£1.5bn revenue before collapse, employing approximately 1,200 staff across UK sites
- Over 1,000 jobs lost in six months with sites in Burnley, Harlow, Elland and Basingstoke all affected
- Exertis was sold to German private equity firm Aurelius in July 2024 for approximately £100m, ten months before administration
- The company announced massive redundancy proposals in December 2025, aiming to cut workforce from 1,300 to just 130 employees
- Staff reported being informed of plans to axe 90% of the workforce, met with “shock and stunned silence”
- Painful SAP rollout, national newspaper scandal, and PC market exit contributed to UK sales slumping 8% to £1.65bn in fiscal 2024
- Exertis paused trading with some brands and was unable to secure credit insurance for 50 brands, discontinuing their sale
- Industry sources told Mobile News the administration raised concerns across the channel, particularly among vendors and resellers seeking clarity on outstanding orders, stock positions and potential creditor exposure
- Administrators declined to provide further detail on causes of collapse or future of the business, stating it would be “inappropriate to comment further at this time”
- Suppliers, customers and employees are awaiting answers on the future of one of the UK’s largest technology distributors
- Workplace360 contacts reported high nervousness in the vendor channel over unpaid invoices from Exertis months before administration
What Happened to Exertis UK?
Exertis UK went into administration on Friday, 29 May 2026, according to a note published on the company’s website. The joint administrators confirmed their appointment in an official statement, marking the collapse of one of the United Kingdom’s largest technology distributors.
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 joint administrators stated that “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”.
According to IT Channel Oxygen, Exertis UK finally filed for administration on 29 May, some ten months after DCC Group agreed to sell it to AURELIUS. The publication noted that “employing around 1,200 staff, its demise represents the UK IT channel’s biggest mass redundancy event in recent memory”.
Why Did Exertis UK Collapse?
As reported by IT Channel Oxygen, Exertis IT had seen UK sales slump by 8% to £1.65bn in its fiscal 2024 period, reeling from multiple challenges. The distributor faced a painful SAP roll out, a national newspaper scandal, and its PC market exit before the collapse.
According to a LinkedIn article by Nigel Dunn, over 1,000 people lost their jobs at Exertis UK in the space of six months, with sites in Burnley, Harlow, Elland and Basingstoke all affected.
The company’s troubles began earlier when DCC Group put the DCC Technology division to which Exertis IT belonged up for sale in October 2024. At that time, then Exertis IT boss Tim Griffin claimed there would be “a better owner out there that will enable us to do more”. Griffin stated that “DCC made a decision they want to focus on energy, which means that Technology is somewhat in the cheap seats”.
As reported by Inavate on the Net, the news of restructuring following the acquisition by Aurelius triggered widespread concern among staff, vendors and channel partners. The publication reported that staff say they have been informed that the group aims to cut the workforce from 1,300 to just 130.
How Did Staff React to the Redundancy Announcements?
According to Inavate on the Net, the announcement was met with “shock and stunned silence”, echoing sentiments reported on social media that the developments are “saddening and frustrating”. The publication noted that concerns raised include the speed of the process, uncertainty over future roles, and the impact on long-standing teams and expertise within the business.
As reported by The Business Desk Yorkshire, staff were in shock at plans to axe 90% of workforce following private equity buyout. Exertis UK was acquired by Aurelius in July for approximately £100m.
In December 2025, Exertis UK has confirmed proposals to slash its workforce, just weeks after the business was sold to German private equity firm Aurelius. The distributor informed staff of plans that could reduce headcount from approximately 1,200 employees to around 130, subject to consultation.
In a statement, Exertis said: “Exertis has the opportunity to change structurally and transform into a more agile and specialist distributor that can more efficiently and effectively serve customers’ needs”. The company added that “No final decisions have been made, and they will use the consultation period to discuss viable alternatives to potential redundancies”.
What Happened to Supplier Relationships?
As reported by Inavate on the Net, other media have reported that Exertis has paused trading with some brands and that issues around credit insurance have affected supplier relationships. According to a Facebook post in a industry group, it is also claimed that Exertis has discontinued the sale of 50 brands after it was unable to secure credit insurance to continue supplying them.
Workplace360 contacts reported a high degree of nervousness in the vendor channel over unpaid invoices from Exertis months before the administration.
According to Microscope, specialist distributor Exertis AV revealed it is closing its doors, with comments generated by the post displaying sympathy from those who had worked with the distributor over the years. Exertis AV stated: “To all our customers, suppliers and partners, thank you for your support, time and partnerships, especially over the past few months where your patience and compassion has shone through as the team have navigated what has been an extremely tough period”.
What Are Distributors and Vendors Saying About the Administration?
Industry sources have told Mobile News that the administration has raised concerns across the channel, particularly among vendors and resellers seeking clarity on outstanding orders, stock positions and potential creditor exposure.
As reported by Mobile News, the administrators’ immediate focus is likely to be on understanding the financial position of the company, preserving value where possible and determining whether parts of the business can continue operating, be sold, or restructured.
Mobile News reported that the administrators of Exertis (UK) Ltd have begun assessing the company’s affairs but have declined to provide any further detail on the causes of the collapse or the future of the business. The joint administrators confirmed in a statement to Mobile News that they “are currently undertaking an assessment of the Company’s affairs and working with the remaining management team and employees to manage the Administration process”.
The administrators stated: “Given the early stage of the Administration, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time. Any material updates will be communicated to stakeholders through the appropriate channels”.
Mobile News reported that the administrators have made it clear that no further comment will be made beyond the statement at this stage, leaving suppliers, customers and employees waiting for answers on the future of one of the UK’s largest technology distributors.
What Is the Next Step for Exertis UK?
As reported by Workplace360, a notice of intention (NOI) to appoint an administrator was filed on behalf of Exertis UK on 1 May, with representatives of Chatham-based Turpin Barker Armstrong named as the intended administrators. Workplace360 noted that the NOI allows for an initial moratorium of ten business days, although this can be extended in certain circumstances.
According to Dealer Support, a Notice of Intention to appoint administrators is a formal insolvency procedure in the UK that signals a company is seeking temporary protection while it explores restructuring options. The publication explained that it does not mean administrators have yet been appointed, but it can create a short moratorium that limits certain creditor actions while recovery, financing, or sale options are assessed.
As reported by Mobile News, for now, stakeholders across the channel remain in a holding pattern, with vendors, customers, and partners awaiting clarity on the distributor’s future shape once the consultation process concludes.
While the existing C-Suite executive leadership team has largely exited day-to-day roles, the company continues to operate under an interim structure, with senior managers stepping up to ensure continuity during the consultation period.
The joint administrators confirmed that they are now working with Exertis’ remaining management team and employees as they begin the process of reviewing the company’s position.
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How Does This Impact the UK IT Channel?
IT Channel Oxygen reported that Exertis UK implosion represents 10 decisive moments in the £1.5bn distributor’s demise. The publication has been “talking to executives and employees through every painful step” of the collapse.
According to IT Channel Oxygen, optimism abounded in October 2024 when DCC Group put the DCC Technology division to which Exertis IT belonged up for sale. At that time, then Exertis IT boss Tim Griffin claimed there would be “a better owner out there that will enable us to do more”.
The UK IT channel is now facing uncertainty as suppliers, customers and employees wait for answers on outstanding orders, stock positions and potential creditor exposure. The collapse has created ripple effects across the technology distribution sector, with vendors closely monitoring the situation for continuity of supply and credit terms implications.