Air Liquide and its shareholders: a lasting relationship  [ Return towards  Sustainable Development  ]

For Air Liquide and its shareholders, economic profitability goes hand-inhand with a commitment to society. By becoming shareholders in the Group, investors are choosing a company with sustained growth: on average, share value has increased at an annual rate of 12% since the company was first traded on the Bourse. Investors have also chosen a responsible company, whose gas applications and services contribute to protecting the environment and protecting life.

Air Liquide seeks to increase the number of its long-term shareholders. On June 13, 2007, by splitting the nominal share value in two, the company made its shares more accessible, improving liquidity, particularly for individual investors.
The business in which the company is engaged involves long-term investment.
The Group’s commitment to its customers frequently leads to 10 to 15 year contracts. To keep in step with this business model, achieving long-term relationships with shareholders is key.
Air Liquide therefore rewards shareholder loyalty by increasing dividends and bonus share allocations by 10% to all registered shareholdings held for more than two years.

Air Liquide has formally expressed its responsibility to all of its shareholders through the Shareholders’Charter, which is based on four commitments:

• Consideration and respect for all its shareholders,

• Remunerating and increasing investment value over the long term,

• Listening to and informing shareholders,

• Providing services to shareholders.
  

Air Liquide does everything possible to make life simpler for its shareholders, working continuously to provide them with more services and information about its development and strategy:

• Annual and Sustainable Development Report,

• Shareholders’Guide,

• Annual report summary,

• Regular financial information,

• Financial advice,

• Letters to shareholders, and so on.

This is because maintaining transparency for its shareholders is more than ever a priority for Air Liquide. In addition, over 20 team members in Air Liquide’s Shareholder Services are available to listen to and serve shareholders in daily operations, as well as to answer questions concerning the transfer of their shares. To further strengthen this contact, in 2008 Air Liquide inaugurated a brandnew Shareholders’ Reception Lounge. This forum for exchange, welcoming current and future shareholders and designed in a spirit of warmth and conviviality, is located at the Group’s headquarters in Paris.

Chapter sustainable development

Indicators and objectives Sustainable Development