The Competition Tribunal has conditionally approved the large merger wherein Air Products South Africa (Pty) Ltd (Air Products) intends to acquire Weldamax (Pty) Ltd (Weldamax). On implementation of the proposed merger, Air Products will have sole control over Weldamax.

The Tribunal has approved the proposed transaction with conditions relating to the establishment of a fund to enable small businesses and historically disadvantaged persons (HDPs) to enter into, participate in and expand within the market, as well as increasing the HDP or broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) ownership interest in the merged entity.

Air Products primarily manufactures, supplies and distributes industrial and speciality gases which are used by customers across various industries in South Africa. Air Products also supplies ancillary speciality gas regulating, controlling and handling equipment.

Weldamax distributes a range of manual metal Arc welding, stick manual Arc welding and other welding equipment, consumables and accessories. Weldamax trades, in part, under the name Unique Welding which is an independent distributor of industrial gas, welding consumables and welding equipment. Unique Welding sells these products through both retail and wholesale channels. Weldamax also distributes a range of Air Products’ packaged industrial and speciality welding gases.

Unique Welding Alloys is a division of Weldamax, a Sanlam Private Equity Company.

Air Products South Africa was registered as a private Southern African controlled company on 12 March 1969 on the basis of a 50/50 joint venture between Iscor Ltd and Air Products and Chemicals Inc. Iscor Ltd subsequently transferred their shareholding into the Metkor Group Holdings, a quoted company on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Today, the Metkor Group is controlled by Remgro Ltd.

Air Products South Africa manufactures, supplies and distributes a wide variety of industrial and specialty gas products to the Southern African region.

Metals industry
Air Products offer a full line of gases, including argon, helium, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and gas blends through multiple supply mode options for the metals industry. Air Products pioneered the on-site gas supply concept to the steel industry. Today, their comprehensive range of industrial gases and cost-efficient technologies can help you save money throughout your operations, from the melt shop to the rolling mill.

They also provide a full range of high-performance and industry standard gases for high-quality welding and cutting applications. The shielding gases range includes all industry standard welding mixtures.

The gases are available in a wide range of cylinder, cylinder pack and cryogenic liquid vessel sizes.

For further details contact Air Products South Africa on TEL: 011 570 5000 or visit www.airproducts.co.za