Gulf Cryo Holding KSCC, a leading manufacturer of industrial, medical and specialty gases in the MENA region, has announced that the company value has been boosted by 50 per cent with the injection of paid-up capital from capitalisation of voluntary reserves and retained earnings, as agreed by the owners. The companys total paid-up capital now stands at 22.5 million (approximately US$78 million).

This capital injection comes on the back of strong growth across the region, and geographical expansion in markets such as the GCC, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey and Austria. The company now consists of over 30 production and distribution sites, with more than 1,000 employees across the MENA region.

Amer Huneidi, Chairman, Gulf Cryo, said: In the last three years, Gulf Cryo has gone from being a GCC company to now having a presence in Africa and Europe. We are proud to say that this has been the result of strategic approach of identifying market trends and changing requirements, and positioning ourselves accordingly. Our investments are in our future and this increase in our paid-up capital represents the trust that the board places in our operations, our plans and our outlook.

Shailesh Iyengar, Group Finance Director: Rapidly expanding operations have resulted in strong sustained cash flow generation, and our balance sheet for expansion is robust. Whether through strategic investments, geographical expansion or new market opportunities, Gulf Cryo is poised for its next phase of growth.

The company recently acquired shares in Tyczka Air Austria, part of the Tyczka Group, becoming minority partner. Gulf Cryo and the Tyczka Group will bring together technical, commercial, and financial resources into Tyczka Air Austria to create a well-positioned industrial gas company in a highly industrialised area.

Gulf Cryo has invested in the construction of a 225 TPD (metric tonnes per day) Air Separation Unit on a 30,000 square metre site in Abu Dhabi. It is the biggest site in the UAE for Gulf Cryo, and technologically advanced - the plant has remote operation and the most advanced air separation cryogenic technology available designed to ensure that industrial gases are produced to the stringent quality standards demanded both regionally and internationally.

Earlier in 2014, Gulf Cryo announced the expansion of its CO (Carbon Dioxide) production business. To take the purified product further afield, Gulf Cryo invested in four CO hubs in Dubai, Kuwait, Dammam and Amman, all of which are tested and certified to the most stringent standards. During 2013, EQUATE Petrochemical Company, Kuwaits first private sector petrochemical company, as part of its sustainability initiatives, launched its second CO2 recovery project in Kuwait in partnership with Gulf Cryo to continue environmental protection efforts and provide CO2 to relevant industries.