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2016 ACTIVITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT REPORT

T he year 2016 was marked by a major change in governance within

the Group. The Board of Directors decided in June 2016 to split the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. This new structure aims primarily at allowing management to focus all of its efforts on implementing and executing the Group s strategy an updated version of which was presented at our Capital Markets Day in February 2017 with the oversight and full support of the Board. A new Executive Committee composed of the Group s key operational managers was also implemented to support this goal.

Following my joining the Board of Directors in July 2016, I was named as Non-Executive Chairman, while Patrick Berard was appointed Group Chief Executive Officer beginning July 1, 2016. I am truly convinced that our complementary experience and skills will allow us to foster a dynamic that will drive superior returns for shareholders and, more

widely, for all our stakeholders.

Rexel s performance in 2016 was in line with guidance. The Group s sales of 13.2bn were slightly down 1.9%*. In parallel, Rexel continued to strengthen its financial structure, enabling us to pay a cash dividend of 0.40 per share, which is stable compared to last year and in line with our pay-out policy.

By capitalizing on its leading market positions, strong relationships with clients and suppliers, industrial expertise and highly competent teams, Rexel is on the right track to successfully transform its business model and accelerate its growth.

*On a constant and same-day basis.

Biographical information

Ian Meakins, 59 years old, has been Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rexel since October 1st, 2016. Prior to that, he was appointed Wolseley CEO in July 2009. He was previously Chief Executive Officer of Travelex, the international foreign exchange and payments business. Previously he was Chief Executive Officer of Alliance UniChem plc until its merger with Boots in July 2006. Prior to that, between 2000 and 2004, he was President, European Major Markets and Global Supply for Diageo plc, spending over 12 years with the company in a variety of international management positions. He is a Non-Executive Director and the Senior Independent Director of Centrica plc.