Sonepar USA
“Can a global electrical distributor monetize its B2B distribution flow by embedding payment terms and project financing into its order workflow?”
Founded1998
HQCharleston, SC, USA (US HQ); parent in Paris, France
IndustryB2B Distribution / Electrical
The story
Sonepar USA is the US arm of a French family-owned electrical distribution group, growing through acquisitions to 571 branches and $16.5B in 2025 US sales. Its embedded finance footprint is minimal and indirect — primarily a Sunlight Financial partnership that lets solar installers buy equipment via third-party point-of-sale financing, with Sunlight paying Sonepar directly. The company is a buyer of B2B fintech (procurement/AP/tax automation), not a builder of embedded finance products.
Last 12 months
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Product timeline
1998
Sonepar enters the US market· expansion
2017
Automated tax provision process with GTM Tax using ONESOURCE Tax Provision (OTP)· operations
2020
Partnered with Sunlight Financial to launch the Accelerate program providing point-of-sale financing for solar installers· lending
The stack
Lending
Accelerate program (with Sunlight Financial) — direct-pay solution where Sunlight finances residential solar installers and pays Sonepar USA directly for equipment
Accounting gap: none