Acquisition of Linde Gas UK now complete

Air Liquide is pleased to announce that effective from May 31, 2007, the business activities of Linde Gas UK have been transferred to the Air Liquide Group. The transaction is based on an enterprise value of 105 million euros. This acquisition will have an immediate and positive impact on the Group’s results and allow Air Liquide to almost double the size of its UK operation.

This new business is very complementary with Air Liquide activities. The acquisition of additional production units will enable Air Liquide to provide a wider range of products and services to key industry sectors and enhance its capabilities significantly. It also gives an exciting opportunity to access the UK hospital and homecare markets, an area where Air Liquide has proven its ability to provide innovative and customer oriented solutions elsewhere in the world.

Klaus Schmieder, Senior Executive Vice-President of the Air Liquide Group, stated: “Air Liquide will integrate the existing UK operations in an enlarged business, to grow and strengthen its position as a key player in the UK industrial and medical gases markets. It will also enable us to increase our ambitions in this market through more rapid deployment of our Group’s overall resources and expertise.”