S a Ladder, Pretoria

Fixtrade 726 (Pty) Ltd, a black owned Investment Company chaired by Prince Thumbumuzi Dlamini has acquired a 26% equity interest in SA Ladder, a family owned manufacturing company that produces ladders, alloy wheels, hydraulic forklifts, trolleys and diverse components for the building, mining and retail industries.

The transaction will result in Fixtrade appointing two directors to the board of SA Ladder. To facilitate further value the parties have entered into a separate management service agreement in terms of which the empowerment partners will provide active man-hours participating in operations.

Fixtrade shareholders include medical practitioner, Dr. Sello Motaung and practicing attorney Templeton Mageza as well as a women's investment group. The deal was concluded in April 2006.

SA Ladder was founded in 1992 by John Duncan, (presently assisted by family members Jonathan, Darren, Cathryn, Lauryn, Stephen and Erlo) and has grown into a company with a national footprint in ladders, castors, access and materials handling equipment with offices throughout the country. The company employs more than 400 people, and currently has in excess of 50% market share in fibreglass and aluminium ladders, trolleys and industrial castor market.