French industrial gases major Air Liquide on June 24, 2016 entered into an agreement to sell certain assets in the US to Matheson Tri-Gas Inc, a subsidiary of Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation of Japan. Upon closing, these divestitures to Matheson would mark a significant milestone toward satisfying the conditions required by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in connection with Air Liquide’s recently closed acquisition of Airgas.
As part of this agreement, Air Liquide has divested eighteen air separation units (ASUs) in sixteen locations; two nitrous oxide production facilities; four liquid carbon dioxide production facilities in four states (including two dry ice production facilities); and three Airgas retail packaged welding gas stores in Alaska.
In addition, Air Liquide is currently in negotiations to sell two of its facilities in Iowa that produce both liquid carbon dioxide and dry ice, which are the remaining assets ordered by the FTC to be divested in connection with Air Liquide’s acquisition of Airgas.
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Under the terms of the purchase agreement, Matheson will acquire production facilities, equipment, inventory, distribution assets, and customer contracts. Matheson will also hire employees related to the divested assets upon closing of the transaction.