Company has grown from start-up in a bus garage to top global producer of industrial gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and carbon dioxide PARIS/LONDON — In the past century, Air Liquide has grown from a start-up in a bus garage to the top global producer of industrial gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and carbon dioxide, with number one or number two positions in Europe, Africa and Asia. In North America, though, the French company was stuck in third place.On Tuesday, CEO Benoit Potier announced a deal that would seal Air Liquide’s dominance: a $10.3bn takeover of Airgas, the top US supplier in its industrial market speciality."We will clearly become an undisputed global leader," Mr Potier said on Wednesday in Paris. "This is … a game-changing acquisition."Air Liquide delivers gases to industrial sites, ranging from refineries to cool-drink bottling plants. In the space industry, it provides propulsion for launchers and liquid nitrogen to freeze foods. For consumers, i...
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