Air Liquide Canada acquires Tri-County Welding Supplies

MONTREAL , Sept. 16 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Liquide Canada Inc., a company of the Air Liquide Group, the world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment, today announced its acquisition of Tri-County Welding Supplies. Tri-County Welding Supplies is ALC's largest, independently owned welding supply distributor in Ontario and has been servicing the Kitchener-Waterloo region for over 40 years.

"This acquisition strengthens our base in one of the most commercially active areas in Canada ," said Luc Doyon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Liquide Canada . "We expect it will generate significant benefits for customers, who will not only have direct access to the complete range of Air Liquide's expanded products and services offer, but will benefit from our e-business platform, our worldwide network of experts and our international research centres."

Tri-County was created as a result of Air Liquide Canada's cylinder distributor program of the 1960's in which close to 100 distributor locations were established.

"This acquisition will give Air Liquide Canada the opportunity to expand its product offering in the Kitchener/Waterloo region, thus increasing availability of ALC products to existing and potential customers," added Mr. Doyon .

About Air Liquide

Air Liquide is the world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment, and is present in over 75 countries with 43,000 employees. Oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen carbon dioxide and rare gases have been at the core of Air Liquide's activities since its creation in 1902. Using these molecules, Air Liquide continuously reinvents its business, anticipating the needs of current and future markets. The Group innovates to enable progress, to achieve dynamic growth and a consistent performance.

Air Liquide combines many products and technologies to develop valuable applications and services not only for its customers but also for society. Innovative technologies that curb polluting emissions, lower industry's energy use, recover and reuse natural resources or develop the energies of tomorrow, such as hydrogen, biofuels or photovoltaic energy... Oxygen for hospitals, homecare, fighting nosocomial infections...

A partner for the long term, Air Liquide relies on employee commitment, customer trust and shareholder support to pursue its vision of sustainable, competitive growth. The diversity of Air Liquide's teams, businesses, markets and geographic presence provides a solid and sustainable base for its development and strengthens its ability to push back its own limits, conquer new territories and build its future.

Air Liquide explores the best that air can offer to preserve life, staying true to its sustainable development approach. In 2008, the Group's revenues amounted to (euro)13.1 billion, of which almost 80% were earned outside France . Air Liquide is listed on the Paris Euronext stock exchange (compartment A) and is a member of the CAC 40 and Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 indexes.

For further information: Julie Brouard, Manager, Communication, Air Liquide Canada, [phone]