BOC Kenya plc (BOCKL)

BOC Kenya plc (BOCKL) is a prominent manufacturing company based in Nairobi, Kenya, specializing in the production and distribution of industrial and medical gases. Here’s an overview of the company:

Location

BOC Kenya plc is headquartered on Kitui Road, within Nairobi’s Industrial Area. The coordinates of its headquarters are approximately 1°18’18.0″S latitude and 36°51’02.0″E longitude.

Overview

BOC Kenya plc is a subsidiary of Linde plc, a global engineering and industrial gases company originally founded in Germany in 1879. Linde plc operates in over 100 countries worldwide and is involved in various sectors including industrial gases, welding products, and medical equipment.

BOC Kenya plc primarily focuses on:

• Industrial Gases: Production and distribution of gases used in various industrial processes.
• Medical Gases: Manufacturing and supplying gases for medical applications, ensuring quality and safety standards are met.
• Welding Products: Providing welding equipment and related products to support industrial operations.
• Medical Equipment: Supplying essential medical equipment necessary for healthcare facilities.

History

In December 2005, BOC Kenya plc made a significant move to acquire majority shareholding in Carbacid Investments, aiming to make it a wholly owned subsidiary. However, the acquisition was contested as BOC Kenya fell short of the required 80% acceptance threshold from Carbacid shareholders, receiving only 71%. This led to a dispute with the Capital Markets Authority and a suspension of trading for both BOC Kenya and Carbacid stocks on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) until 2009, when the takeover offer lapsed.

Subsidiaries

BOC Kenya plc maintains several subsidiaries to enhance its operations across East Africa:

• BOC Tanzania Limited: Based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, focusing on the production and distribution of industrial and medical gases.
• BOC Uganda Limited: Located in Kampala, Uganda, serving the Ugandan market with similar products and services.
• Kivuli Limited: Based in Mombasa, Kenya, supporting regional operations.
• East African Oxygen Limited: Currently dormant, possibly for future strategic initiatives.

Ownership

BOC Kenya plc is publicly listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange under the symbol BOC. The ownership structure includes:

• BOC Holdings: A wholly owned subsidiary of Linde Group, holding a majority stake of 65.38% in BOC Kenya plc.
• Institutional & Private Investors: Holding the remaining 34.62% of the company’s shares.

Conclusion

BOC Kenya plc plays a crucial role in the industrial and medical sectors in Kenya and East Africa, leveraging its association with Linde plc to uphold international standards in gas production and distribution. Through its subsidiaries and strategic initiatives, the company continues to contribute significantly to the region’s industrial and healthcare sectors.