Meritus Gas Partners, through its wholly owned subsidiary Buckeye Welding Supply, has acquired Wagner Welding Supply, expanding Buckeye’s presence in Colorado and strengthening its industrial and medical gas distribution capabilities.
Wagner Welding Supply is headquartered in Longmont, Colorado, and has served the northern Denver market for more than 80 years.
Led by owner Dennis Ogden, Wagner provides industrial and medical gases from its Longmont location and has established longstanding relationships with customers across the region.
The acquisition gives Buckeye its fifth location and adds another distribution point for customers in northwest Denver.
The transaction follows Buckeye’s acquisition of HICO Distributing in Englewood, Colorado, earlier this year and supports Meritus’ strategy of expanding its network of independent gas and welding supply distributors.
Buckeye sees opportunities to build on Wagner’s existing business and extend its capabilities into markets including construction, aerospace and chemicals.
Meritus was founded in December 2020 and is a portfolio company of AEA Enterprise.
The company is building a national network of distributors specializing in industrial, medical and specialty gases along with welding and safety supplies. Its model is designed to preserve the entrepreneurial culture and local identities of acquired businesses while providing greater resources to accelerate growth.
AEA Investors manages approximately $19 billion in assets across private equity and private credit strategies.
KEY QUOTES:
“Meritus has a unique model that allows us to maintain the culture and legacy that made Wagner successful, while providing access to the resources and expertise of a larger organization. We are excited to partner with Meritus and the Buckeye team to continue growing the business while providing even greater value to our customers and employees.”
Dennis Ogden, Owner of Wagner Welding Supply
“Wagner is an exceptional company built on strong relationships, dedicated employees and a commitment to customer service. Dennis and his team have created a business with a tremendous reputation in the market, and we are excited to welcome them to the Buckeye family. The Wagner facility provides Buckeye with our fifth location and an additional outlet to serve our customers in northwest Denver. We are confident we can expand Wagner’s capabilities to reach into new markets, including the construction, aerospace and chemical industries. By combining Wagner’s local strengths and culture with the resources and expertise of a larger organization, we are well positioned to continue growing the business and creating even greater value for customers, employees and communities across northern Colorado.”
Steve Schwegman, President of Buckeye Welding Supply
