Airgas agrees to purchase Aeriform Corporation

Airgas Inc. announced August 8 that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire the assets and operations of Houston, TX-based Aeriform Corporation, an independent distributor with 29 locations in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Kansas. The companies expect to close the transaction by September 1, subject to due diligence, customary closing conditions and regulatory reviews.

The operations to be acquired have about 240 employees and annual sales of approximately $65 million. About 58 percent of its revenue comes from gas & rent, with the balance from traditional welding hardgoods.

"This will be a great fit with our core business operations along the Gulf Coast and the Mid South," said Airgas chairman and CEO Peter McCausland. "The added resources will improve our coverage and help us efficiently deliver better service to customers in this key energy market."

Airgas will integrate most of the operations into three of its regional companies: Airgas Southwest will integrate 14 sites in Texas, including locations near Houston, Victoria, El Paso and Lubbock. Airgas Gulf States will integrate seven sites in southern Louisiana and east Texas. Airgas Mid South will integrate two sites in Kansas, and four sites in Oklahoma, and two locations in Shreveport, La.

As part of the acquisition, Airgas will offer employment to most of the 240 employees of Aeriform affected by the acquisition.

“We are excited about joining Airgas through this transaction, which will offer great opportunities for our customers and our employees,” said Michael Stoddard, president and CEO of Aeriform. “Airgas is not only acquiring an outstanding group of customers, but an exceptionally talented team of associates, who have worked very hard over the years to build the company it is today.”