Actom (Pty) Ltd, the largest locally controlled manufacturer of electrical equipment in Southern Africa, has acquired Savcio (Pty) Ltd, a well-known South African group devoted mainly to providing maintenance and repair services for rotating equipment and transformers throughout Africa.
Actom partners Alstom for environmental equipment and in-service, maintenance, upgrade and retrofit for larger boilers, as well as for railway transport activities. It also holds exclusive distribution, technology and representation rights for Alstom Grid in Southern Africa and maintains management, technical and commercial links to Alstom Grid business in Europe.
The acquisition, following approval by the South African Competition Tribunal on 13 February 2012, boosts Actom’s annual order intake by 50% to over R7.5 billion and increases the number of its operating units to 40 from the previous total of 33. The group’s production, service and repair facilities now number 39 and it has 26 distribution outlets.
In addition, the total staff complement of Actom has increased from about 6,000 to about 7,500 as a result of the deal.
Actom chairman and CEO Mark Wilson says all former Savcio divisions will continue to operate in their existing form, under their present brand names LH Marthinusen, Marthinusen & Coutts, Reid & Mitchell, Transwire and Wilec, and with their existing management and staff.
“The acquisition reinforces the group’s ongoing strategy of local added value and technology development. This approach is supported by strong partnerships with multinational companies and is targeted at supplying technical solutions specifically but not exclusively tailored to the African market,” Wilson explains.
“Actom’s greatest strengths are in design, development and local manufacture of electro-mechanical equipment and turnkey solutions, whereas Savcio’s reputation rests mainly on its capabilities in the repair and maintenance services of much of this equipment. The two groups complement each other admirably in this way and the transaction combines their respective strengths to open up new business opportunities, as well as providing a more comprehensive offering to all customers.
“The acquisition of Savcio therefore represents a significant broadening of the group’s scope of activities. Actom now constitutes a local original equipment manufacturer (OEM) with after-market repair and maintenance capabilities that facilitate total life cycle management and turnkey solutions. Several leading Savcio divisions also have a well-established presence in many African countries, which should reinforce Actom’s penetration into these markets,” Wilson says.
Actom has excellent BBBEE credentials, having been accredited by a SANAS approved verification agent in line with the BBBEE Act and the Codes of Good Practice and obtained a Level 3 rating.
Actom has a longstanding commitment to local manufacture wherever feasible, together with providing employment to local people and encouraging skills development among its employees. It provides opportunities for employees to advance their careers within the group and has a good record of employee retention.
Actom (Pty) Ltd is the largest manufacturer, repairer and distributor of electro-mechanical equipment and turnkey solutions in Southern Africa, with 40 operating units, 39 production, service and repair facilities, and 26 distribution outlets. Actom has distribution and value-added reseller agreements with Schneider Electric of France for a range of automation and medium voltage products.
Original article [Railways Africa]
