Barloworld Limited

{{Infobox company

| name = Barloworld Limited

| logo = Barloworld Logo.svg

| logo_size = 250px

| type = Public

| traded_as = {{Jse|BAW}}

| ISIN = {{ISIN|sl=n|pl=y|ZAE000026639}}

| genre =

| foundation = {{start date and age|1902}}

| founder = Ernest (Billy) Barlow

| location_city = Sandton, Gauteng

| location_country = South Africa

| location =

| locations =

| industry = Industrial equipment and services
Agriculture

| products =

| services =

| revenue = {{decrease}} R41.9 Billion (2024){{cite web|url= https://barloworld.com/investors/integrated-reports/ |title= 2024 Annual Financial Statements |author= |publisher= Barloworld |date= |access-date= 13 May 2025 }}

| operating_income = {{decrease}} R5.11 billion (2024)

| net_income = {{decrease}} R1.67 billion (2024)

| assets = {{decrease}} R41,19 billion (2024)

| equity = {{decrease}} R16.67 billion (2024)

| owner =

|key_people = Dominic Sewela (CEO)
Nopasika Lila (CFO)
Lulu Gwagwa (Chairman)

| num_employees = 6,234

| parent =

| divisions =

| subsid =

| slogan =

| homepage = [http://www.barloworld.com http://www.barloworld.com]

| footnotes =

| intl =

}}

Barloworld (officially Barloworld Limited) is South African holding company, with interests in the fields of industrial equipment, industrial services, and agriculture.

Once a large conglomerate with many unrelated businesses, ranging at various times from mining, information technology, and building materials, to motor vehicles, it has since repositioned itself and unbundled many of its assets.

The company used to be the sponsor of the Barloworld cycling team.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

History

=Initial years (1902 to 2016) =

Barloworld was founded in Durban by Major Ernest (Billy) Barlow in 1902 as Thomas Barlow and Sons, selling wool products, and later engineering equipment.{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/directoryofmulti0001unse |title=Directory of multinationals |date=1992 |location=Basingstoke |publisher= Macmillan Press |isbn=978-0-333-57756-1}} It was expanded by his son Charles Sydney (Punch) Barlow who expanded into the sale and service of Caterpillar products in 1927.

In 1940, after moving its headquarters to Johannesburg, it listed on the JSE. Barlow entered the motor business, and eventually expanded into the manufacture of cement, paint, stainless steel and household appliances, as well as mining, through the acquisition of Rand Mines Limited in 1971, with the new company called Barlow Rand.

Barloworld entered the Russian market in 1998, through its subsidiary Vostochnaya Technica.{{Cite web |last=Khumalo |first=Sibongile |title=Barloworld bleeds as markets worry about its Russian business |url=https://www.news24.com/fin24/companies/barloworld-bleeds-as-markets-worry-about-its-russian-business-20220301 |access-date=21 February 2023 |website=Business |language=en-US}} Barloworld is the official Caterpillar dealer for parts of Russia.{{Cite web |last=Cronje |first=Jan |title=Barloworld plans to 'hunker down' in Russia |url=https://www.news24.com/fin24/companies/barloworld-plans-to-hunker-down-in-russia-20220330 |access-date=21 February 2023 |website=Business |language=en-US}}

In 2015, the company employed 19,745 around the world.{{Cite web|url=http://barloworld-reports.co.za/integrated-reports/ir-2015/per-people.php#sel=|title = Barloworld Integrated Annual Report 2015 - People}}

= Recent developments (2016 to present) =

In November 2016, Barloworld and German company BayWa entered into a joint venture (JV) to expand their agriculture and materials handling operations in Southern Africa.{{Cite news|url=http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/barloworld-baywa-extend-collaboration-in-southern-africa-2016-11-18|title=Barloworld, BayWa extend collaboration in Southern Africa|last=Wyngaardt|first=Megan van|work=Engineering News|access-date=18 December 2017}}

In 2018, Barloworld Equipment had been the official Caterpillar dealer in southern Africa for 90 years.{{Cite web |last=Vuuren |first=Richard Jansen van |date=12 June 2018 |title=Barloworld Equipment: Nurturing the next decade of growth |url=https://www.miningreview.com/features-analysis/barloworld-equipment-nurturing-next-decade-growth/ |access-date=21 February 2023 |website=Miningreview.com |language=en-ZA}} In June 2018, Barloworld sold its Iberian equipment business to Tesa S.p.A. for $180 million.{{Cite news |date=19 November 2018 |title=South Africa's Barloworld in talks to buy a Caterpillar business |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-barloworld-ltd-results-idUSKCN1NO0YP |access-date=21 February 2023}} Tongaat Hulett, a South African sugar producer, in February 2020 decided to sell its starch business to Barloworld for $351.10 million including debt.{{Cite news |date=28 February 2020 |title=South Africa's Tongaat to sell starch business to Barloworld |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/tongaat-hulett-divestiture-idUSL3N2AS4SZ |access-date=21 February 2023}}

Barloworld's CEO Dominic Sewela announced that Barloworld would be exiting logistics in June 2020.{{Cite web |last=Venter |first=Irma |title=Barloworld to exit logistics, shed 2 500 jobs in auto, logistics business |url=https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/barloworld-to-exit-logistics-shed-2500-jobs-in-auto-logistics-business-2020-06-30 |access-date=21 February 2023 |website=www.engineeringnews.co.za |language=en}} The company purchased its starch business Ingrain from Tongaat Hulett in 2020, and that year also purchased the Caterpillar dealer Equipment Mongolia. It continued to exit its motor retail business, selling the unit to NMI Durban South Motors.{{Cite web |last=Mashego |first=Penelope |title=New acquisitions boost Barloworld's half-year performance |url=https://www.news24.com/fin24/companies/industrial/new-acquisitions-boost-barloworlds-half-year-performance-20210524 |access-date=21 February 2023 |website=Business |language=en-US}}

In 2021, the company announced that it planned to sell its logistics, leasing, and car rental businesses by 2022.{{Cite web |date=25 May 2021 |title=Barloworld to sell its logistics business by the end of the year |url=https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/companies-and-deals/barloworld-to-sell-its-logistics-business-by-the-end-of-the-year/ |access-date=21 February 2023 |website=Moneyweb |language=en}}

In May 2022, Barloworld cancelled significant orders from Russia due to ongoing international sanctions.{{Cite web |last=Mashego |first=Penelope |title=Sanctions force Barloworld to cancel more than R2bn in orders in Russia |url=https://www.news24.com/fin24/companies/sanctions-force-barloworld-to-cancel-more-than-r2bn-in-orders-in-russia-20220523 |access-date=21 February 2023 |website=Business |language=en-US}}

The company joined the World Coal Association in May 2022.{{Cite web |date=19 May 2022 |title=World Coal Association welcomes new members in South Africa |url=https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/19052022/world-coal-association-welcomes-new-members-in-south-africa/ |access-date=21 February 2023 |website=World Coal |language=en}} Barloworld Ltd. in August 2022 released a number of bonds that were related to goals related to the number of women in company leadership.{{Cite news |date=12 August 2022 |title=Gender-Diversity Bonds Get S. Africa Debut With Barloworld Sale |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-12/barloworld-plans-gender-bond-sale-in-first-for-south-africa |access-date=21 February 2023}}

In September 2022, Barloworld UK continued to operate the Barloworld UK Pension Scheme.{{Cite web |date=7 September 2022 |title=Barloworld UK Pension Scheme completes £484 million full buy-in |url=https://www.pionline.com/pension-risk-transfer/barloworld-uk-pension-scheme-completes-ps484-million-full-buy-just-group |access-date=21 February 2023 |website=Pensions & Investments |language=en}} In November 2022, Barloworld was sued over accusations of racism and unlawful termination.{{Cite web |last=Majavu |first=Noxolo |title=Barloworld accused of racism and unlawful termination |url=https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/barloworld-accused-of-racism-and-unlawful-termination-20221121 |access-date=21 February 2023 |website=City Press |language=en-US}}

In December 2022, Barloworld's car rental unit, Zeda, was listed separately on the JSE with a valuation of $260 million. The unit included the Avis and Budget rental brands. Barloworld said it would continue to focus on renting industrial equipment to mining and consumer-goods companies.{{Cite news |date=28 November 2022|title=Barloworld's Car-Rental Unit Sees Valuation of $260 Million on Listing |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-28/barloworld-s-avis-unit-sees-valuation-of-260-million-on-listing |access-date=21 February 2023}}

In December 2024, Barloworld announced its intention to sell all of its ordinary shares to a new holding company - Newco - which was to be formed by two existing corporations, namely Entsha Proprietary Limited (a 100% black-owned South African entity) and Gulf Falcon Holding Limited (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Saudi Zahid Group). Entsha would own 51% of Newco, and Gulf would own 49%.{{cite web|url= https://barloworld.com/news/press-releases/news_article.php?articleID=15255 |title= Newco Announces Firm Intention to Acquire Barloworld |author= |publisher= Barloworld |date= 11 December 2024 |access-date= 13 May 2025 }}

As part of the Newco proposal, Barloworld was valued at R23.3 billion. Newco stated that it intended to continue operations under the Barloworld brand.

Operations

Barloworld has two major divisions - Industrial Equipment and Services, and Consumer Industries. The former provides equipment and services for Caterpillar products to industries including mining, construction, energy, and transportation. The latter provides large businesses with ingredients essential to the manufacturing of, among other things, food and beverages, paper, pharmaceuticals, adhesives, and building materials.{{cite web|url= https://barloworld.com/investors/integrated-reports/ |title= 2024 Integrated Report |author= |publisher= Barloworld |date= |access-date= 13 May 2025 }}

The company's Equipment operations are further divided into two segments. Barloworld Equipment Southern Africa operates in 11 African countries, and Barloworld Equipment Eurasia has operations in Mongolia and Russia.

Litigation

=Barloworld Handling Ltd v. Unilift South Wales Ltd=

On 24 March 2009, Barloworld Handling Ltd applied under s.69(1) Companies Act 2006 for a change of name for the company called Unilift South Wales Ltd.

Barloworld Handling Ltd argued that since they already acquired a company called Unilift Ltd, Unilift South Wales Ltd should change their name as Unilift Ltd had goodwill and reputation for the marketing, hiring and servicing of fork lift trucks in Swansea and Cardiff.

The problems came from the fact of Unilift South Wales Ltd marketing similar products to those marketed by Unilift Ltd and as evidence of confusion, Unilift Ltd had received invoices intended for Unilift South Wales Ltd.

Barloworld Handling Ltd represented to the Company Names Tribunal that Unilift South Wales Ltd was passing off as Unilift Ltd and so they should be ordered to change their name so that there is nothing even similar to Unilift in their name or trading name.

The litigation was struck out because the Adjudicator found that the respondent had already registered its name on 18 December 2007 and was operating and had not registered a similar name to the applicant's for the purpose of trying to extort money or to prevent them from registering the name themselves. The Tribunal is there to hear complaints that respondents have been opportunistic but they do not decide on claims in the tort of passing off.[http://www.ipo.gov.uk/o12709.pdf Barloworld Handling Ltd v. Unilift South Wales Ltd] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103023944/http://www.ipo.gov.uk/o12709.pdf |date=November 3, 2012 }} Retrieved 19 September 2014

Corporate social responsibility

Barloworld operates the Barloworld Empowerment Foundation (BWEF), which is focused on advancing education, entrepreneurship, youth development and social empowerment, and environmental protection and rehabilitation. All of Barloworld's community-focused initiatives are consolidated under the expertise of the BWEF. The company standardizes its goals and values across Barloworld Trust (BWT), the Barloworld Mbewu Social Innovation Programme, and the Barloworld Siyakhula Programme. In 2024, the company invested R5.8 million in socio-economic development programs.

The company operates the Barloworld Equipment Reman Centre (BRC), as part of its salvage modernization project. The BRC is one of 15 certified component repair centers in the global Caterpillar dealership network.

Barloworld has installed roof-mounted solar PV panels at 8 of its sites, in an effort to reduce energy usage and enable more environmentally-sustainable operations. As part of waste reduction, the company has an oil sludge and oil filter recycling initiative. For water reduction, Barloworld uses rainwater harvesting in water-scarce regions, and operates a closed-loop system for its wash bays and water recycling plant.

Through its Young Talent Pipeline, Barloworld provides students with bursaries, and offers traineeships to give recent graduates job experience at the company's headquarters. Its Equipment Eurasia Talent Pipeline runs an apprenticeship program in Mongolia. Through the Education Foundation Trust, Barloworld Equipment Southern Africa funds the education of learners across numerous fields, including engineering, IT, and finance.