Air Liquide enters into exclusive negotiations with Lincoln Electric to sell its Air Liquide Welding subsidiary

Air Liquide announces it has entered into exclusive negotiations with Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (“Lincoln Electric”) (Nasdaq: LECO), the world leader in design, development and manufacture of arc welding products, robotic arc welding systems, plasma and oxy-fuel cutting equipment, to sell Air Liquide Welding, its subsidiary specializing in the manufacture of welding and cutting technologies.

The transaction is subject to the final and definitive agreement between the parties and customary conditions and provisions, in particular the “information-consultation” process with the employee representative bodies and the competition authorities’ approval.

Air Liquide is focused on its Gas & Services activities following the acquisition of Airgas, as well as on the implementation of its company program NEOS for the 2016-2020 period.