Meritus Gas Partners (“Meritus”) announced its formation via a partnership with Willingham Welding Solutions, Inc. (d/b/a Gas Innovations) (“Gas Innovations”) and Atlas Welding Supply Co., Inc. (“Atlas”), in conjunction with a growth investment from AEA Investors’ (“AEA”) Small Business Fund (“AEA SBF”). Meritus is a platform led by a team of accomplished industry executives to partner with best-in-class independent packaged gas distributors across North America. Meritus intends to assemble a national federation of high-quality independent distributors of industrial, medical, and specialty gases and welding and safety supplies, located in diverse geographies and serving growing end-markets.
The Meritus executive team is led by industry executives Scott Kaltrider (Chairman) and Rob D’Alessandro (Vice-Chairman). Mr. Kaltrider has held various senior executive operating roles at Praxair Inc. over a 35+ year career, including serving as President of Praxair Distribution Inc. (“PDI”), its packaged gas business in the U.S., from 2013-2016. Mr. D’Alessandro, former owner of independent distributor Welco Gases Corp. in Newark, NJ, served as PDI’s Vice-President of Corporate Development for nearly 15 years, where he was the principal architect of the acquisition and operational integration of approximately 100 independent distributors. Mike Masha, former CFO of Messer MG Industries and mid-Atlantic distributor GTS-Welco, will serve as Meritus’ Chief Financial Officer, while Dave Marek will serve as its Director of Business Development following a 40-year career in the industry.
Click here to read the full press release.
