Exertis UK has put hundreds of staff at risk of redundancy, following the launch of a 45-day statutory consultation process.
The news follows the acquisition of Exertis UK and Ireland by private equity firm Aurelius earlier this year, and has triggered widespread concern among staff, vendors and channel partners.
Here is what we know so far, and what questions are still unanswered.
What we know: A consultation process is under way
Exertis UK has entered a formal 45-day consultation period, expected to conclude in late January. Under UK employment law, no final decisions on redundancies or restructuring can be made until this process is complete.
Employees across multiple UK sites have been informed that their roles are at risk. The scale of change will be significant. Multiple media outlets have reported that the initial proposal could see the Exertis UK workforce reduced from around 1,300 employees to approximately 130. Neither Exertis UK nor Aurelius has confirmed those figures publicly, but we understand the future business would be substantially smaller than the current operation.
Inavate understands that Aurelius believes structural change is required and the consultation process is intended to determine what size and shape of business could be viable in the long term, rather than to rubber-stamp a final structure.
Aurelius acquired Exertis’ UK and Ireland from DCC in July in a deal valued at around £100m. In its acquisition announcement in July, Aurelius said it saw “significant operational improvement potential” in Exertis, while also pointing to a forecast recovery in market demand that it expected would support future growth and profitability.
From an industry perspective, some level of restructuring was always likely following a private equity carve-out. However, the scale of the current proposals suggests that that the anticipated market recovery has been slower or weaker than expected. Aurelius has not commented on the record on whether market conditions have influenced the scope of the consultation.
We’ve heard accounts that the announcement was met with “shock and stunned silence”, echoing sentiments reported on social media that the developments are “saddening and frustrating”. Concerns raised include the speed of the process, uncertainty over future roles, and the impact on long-standing teams and expertise within the business.
What we don’t know: How many roles will ultimately be lost
Although a large number of roles have been placed at risk - with widespread reports suggesting up to 1,200 job losses - Inavate understands that no final headcount has yet been agreed. However, the direction of travel undoubtedly points to a leaner and more specialised Exertis UK business.
What that will look like, we don’t know. There has been no public guidance on which product categories will be prioritised; whether professional AV will be core, peripheral or unaffected; and how enterprise, consumer and specialist segments will be balanced.
For AV manufacturers and integrators, that lack of clarity is one of the biggest unanswered questions.
Other media have reported that Exertis has paused trading with some brands and that issues around credit insurance have affected supplier relationships. Neither Exertis nor Aurelius has commented publicly on these claims, and Inavate has not independently verified them.
What is clear is that vendors are closely watching the situation, particularly around continuity of supply, credit terms and account management during the consultation period.
What questions still remain and what happens next?
For the professional AV channel, several key questions remain unanswered: Will pro AV be part of the future Exertis UK strategy, or a casualty of a narrower focus? How will specialist knowledge and technical support be retained if headcount is significantly reduced? What reassurance can be offered to integrators with live projects or long-term supplier relationships? How will Exertis position itself in a market where scale and specialism increasingly pull in different directions? Until those questions are addressed, uncertainty is likely to persist for employees, partners and customers alike.
The next formal milestone is the end of the consultation period in late January. At that point, it is anticipated that Exertis UK will be able to confirm the outcome of the process and outline the future structure of the business.
[This article was originally posted on December 11, 2025 and updated on December 15, 2025]