AppDirect Acquires Energy Broker DNE Resources, Supported by La Caisse, Expanding Its Energy Services Portfolio in Canada

MONTRÉAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AppDirect, the world’s leading B2B commerce platform, announced it has acquired Québec-based DNE Resources, a market-leading energy broker focused on Canadian deregulated markets. This follows AppDirect’s recent announcement of its Broker Online Exchange (BOX) acquisition, the most flexible retail energy network in North America. Both acquisitions are financed by a CAD 100 million credit facility provided by global investment group La Caisse (formerly CDPQ) and substantially expand AppDirect’s reach into the Canadian and U.S. energy markets, fueling its vision of becoming the everything store and lifecycle management platform for all services supporting business success and growth sold through advisors and brokers.

“The energy market is undergoing massive changes, presenting significant opportunities for cost savings, sustainability, and innovation,” said Nicolas Desmarais, AppDirect’s Chairman and CEO.

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Founded in 2009, DNE provides energy solutions for industrial and commercial customers, making it easier to get the right scalable energy strategy in place. DNE has grown to become one of the largest energy management firms in Canada, with more than CAD 250 million in energy spending under management. Through this acquisition, the DNE team will gain access to the BOX My Service Cloud platform and AppDirect’s portfolio of value-added services. This allows DNE to offer a truly differentiated go-to-market approach to provide their customers with additional technology solutions, driving new revenue streams and increasing customer loyalty.

“One of the most important things we focus on as a business is always doing the right thing. In this case, the right thing for our end customers includes solving their evolving energy needs and expanding our solution set to all products supported in the AppDirect procurement marketplace,” said Wayne Burke, Co-founder and CEO of DNE. “We are excited about this growth opportunity for us as a company and for our customers as a community.”

The acquisitions of DNE and BOX mark a bold step forward in AppDirect’s mission to redefine the future of technology procurement. By adding energy solutions to its platform — which already includes cloud, telecom, mobility, hardware, and AI — AppDirect is building a unified procurement marketplace for technology advisors and brokers so that their customers can seamlessly find, buy, and manage everything they need to succeed.

“The energy market is undergoing massive changes, presenting significant opportunities for cost savings, sustainability, and innovation,” said Nicolas Desmarais, AppDirect’s Chairman and CEO. “Backed by our longstanding partner La Caisse, our acquisitions of DNE and BOX are happening at a crucial time when increased AI consumption has skyrocketed energy demands. We are committed to empowering businesses with the tools, insights, and infrastructure required to thrive in a connected, sustainable, and rapidly evolving digital economy.”

“La Caisse has been a committed partner of AppDirect since 2020, helping them grow through flexible financing solutions to pursue bold, high-potential acquisitions,” said Jérôme Marquis, Managing Director and Head of Private Credit at La Caisse. “This latest investment not only reinforces AppDirect’s leadership in digital commerce but also drives meaningful economic impact by bringing a Québec energy leader into their platform. We are proud to see our partnership continue to create long-term value in Québec and across North America.”

DNE Resources and BOX will remain as strong distinct brands in the energy market. Following these acquisitions, customers will continue to receive the high level of service they have come to expect from DNE and BOX. As a result of this acquisition, DNE customers and BOX brokers can access additional technologies or solutions now available to run their businesses more efficiently and effectively.

A&D Global Advisors LLC / M&A Securities Group Inc. served as exclusive financial advisors to DNE Resources Inc. in this transaction.

To learn more about AppDirect, connect with our team or head to appdirect.com. To learn more about DNE, please visit dneresources.com. To learn more about BOX, go to brokeronlinexchange.com.

About AppDirect

AppDirect is a B2B subscription commerce platform company that brings together technology providers, advisors, and businesses to simplify how they buy, sell, and manage technology. More than 1,000 providers, 10,000 advisors, and 5 million subscribers rely on the AppDirect ecosystem of subscription marketplaces to power their innovation, growth, and success. For more information, visit appdirect.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

About DNE

DNE is an award-winning energy consulting firm that helps clients receive the best value to power their businesses. We develop energy strategies for businesses, schools, non-profits, and government organizations to help them recognize and weigh their energy options. Our portfolio of CAD 250 million in energy spending under management and growing helps us obtain the most competitive prices for each customer. As our portfolio continues to grow, so does our buying power.

About Broker Online Exchange

Broker Online Exchange (BOX) is the most flexible retail energy network in North America. It meets the needs of commercial customer advisors, energy brokers, and referral partners by providing direct access to North America’s top energy suppliers and markets. Broker Online Exchange also provides personalized support and flexible payment plans to its network of energy brokers and partners.

About La Caisse

At La Caisse, formerly CDPQ, we have invested for 60 years with a dual mandate: generate optimal long-term returns for our 48 depositors, who represent over 6 million Quebecers, and contribute to Québec’s economic development.

As a global investment group, we are active in the major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private debt. As at December 31, 2024, La Caisse’s net assets totalled CAD 473 billion. For more information, visit lacaisse.com or consult our LinkedIn or Instagram pages.

La Caisse is a registered trademark of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec that is protected in Canada and other jurisdictions and licensed for use by its subsidiaries.