Meritus Gas Partners (AEA-backed) Acquires Assets of Taronis Fuels

AEA Investors' Small Business Fund Forms Meritus Gas Partners via Acquisitions of Gas Innovations and Atlas Welding Supply

December 31, 2020

Industrial Services

AEA Investors' Small Business Fund (AEA SBF) formed Meritus Gas Partners by acquiring Willingham Welding Solutions (d/b/a Gas Innovations) and Atlas Welding Supply Co. The transaction recapitalizes the two independent industrial/medical gas and welding-supplies distributors to create a national platform of distributors serving industrial, medical and specialty gas end-markets across North America.

Meritus Gas Partners (Mitchell Welding Supply) Acquires MagneGas Welding Supply – South

February 10, 2023

Industrial Services

Meritus Gas Partners, a portfolio company of AEA Investors, has closed the acquisition of substantially all assets of MagneGas Welding Supply – South, LLC via a Section 363 sale following MagneGas/Taronis' Chapter 11 filing. The assets — including seven retail locations and a fill plant and specialty gas laboratory in the Dallas–Fort Worth area — will be integrated into Meritus' regional operating company, Mitchell Welding Supply, to expand the platform's footprint in Texas, Louisiana and Indiana.

Meritus Gas Partners Acquires East Bay Welding Supply, Gulf Coast Gas & Equipment and City Carbonic

October 9, 2024

Industrial Services

Meritus Gas Partners, a platform backed by AEA Investors Small Business Private Equity, completed add-on partnerships with East Bay Welding Supply (Martinez/Antioch, CA), Gulf Coast Gas & Equipment (Houston, TX) and City Carbonic (Oklahoma City, OK) to expand its national network of industrial, medical and specialty gas and welding-supplies distributors. Terms were not disclosed; in each deal the existing owners/founders will continue to lead operations and retain equity in the Meritus platform.

Meritus Gas Partners Acquires OXARC, Inc.

April 7, 2023

Industrial Services

Meritus Gas Partners, a portfolio company of AEA Investors, announced a partnership to acquire OXARC, Inc., a Spokane-based distributor of industrial and specialty gases, welding and safety supplies. Financial terms were not disclosed; the Walmsley family will monetize their ownership while Jenna Fitzgerald and Jason Kirby will continue to lead the business and retain significant equity in Meritus.

Meritus Gas Partners Adds Global Calibration Gases

June 15, 2023

Manufacturing

Meritus Gas Partners entered into a partnership to acquire Global Calibration Gases, LLC, a Sarasota, Florida-based manufacturer and distributor of specialty calibration gas mixtures. The deal (financial terms undisclosed) will keep Global's president Ray Borzio with the business; Meritus — a platform backed by AEA Investors Small Business Private Equity — will use the acquisition to expand its specialty gas capabilities and supply the Meritus federation.

Meritus Gas Partners Acquires Hohenschild Welders Supply

April 13, 2023

Industrial Services

Meritus Gas Partners, a portfolio company of AEA Investors Small Business Private Equity, has entered into a partnership to acquire Hohenschild Welders Supply, a Kansas City-based distributor of packaged gases and welding supplies. The deal expands Meritus' footprint into the Kansas City market and will enable investment in Hohenschild's capabilities and geographic reach; financial terms were not disclosed.