Finalization of Lurgi acquisition

Air Liquide has finalised on 20 July 2007, its acquisition of the engineering firm Lurgi for an enterprise value of €200 million, after obtaining approval from the relevant competition authorities and as described in the press release dated 17 April 2007.

The integration of Lurgi into the Air Liquide group will broaden the technology portfolio of Air Liquide’s Engineering Division, particularly in hydrogen and synthetic gas production processes, in biofuels (bio-ethanol and bio-diesel) and methanol. This will also give Air Liquide a foothold in the Coal to Liquid (CTL) and Coal to Chemicals (CTC) markets.

The acquisition will double the size of the Engineering Division, now with 2,800 employees, and expand its geographic reach, which – when coupled with the enlarged technology portfolio – will further propel the growth, especially of Air Liquide’s Large Industries World Business Line. It will also increase the visibility and competitiveness of the Group in processes relating to clean energy production and the treatment of fossil fuels.