Air Liquide reinforces its position in North America market with the acquisition of the American Gas and associated products suppliers Airgas.
Airgas shareholders will receive $143 per share in cash for all outstanding shares of Airgas, representing a total enterprise value of $13.4 billion (€12.5 billion at current exchange rates1) on a fully diluted basis and including the assumption of Airgas debt.
The transaction represents a premium of +50.6% to Airgas’ one month average share price, prior to the announcement of the transaction, and of +20.3% over Airgas’ 52-week high share price1.
In the transaction, Airgas will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air Liquide​.
The acquisition will reinforce Air Liquide’s global leadership position, increasing Gas & Services sales by around + 30%. Upon completion of the acquisition, the combined company will be the leader in North America, complementing number one positions in Europe, Africa/Middle East and Asia-Pacific. It will also be number one in Industrial Merchant and Large Industries, and co-number one in Electronics, worldwide.
The transaction has been unanimously approved by each of Airgas’ and Air Liquide’s boards of directors, including Executive Chairman of Airgas Peter McCausland who is a significant shareholder, and an ad hoc committee of the Air Liquide board was established to participate in the process that led to the agreement between Airgas and Air Liquide. The transaction is subject to Airgas shareholders’ approval, receipt of necessary antitrust and other regulatory approvals and other customary conditions and provisions.