Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP Announces Price Increases for Industrial Gases

Business Wire, Feb 27, 2008

HOUSTON -- Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP announces price increases for bulk industrial gases in the U.S. The increases will be effective immediately or as existing customer contract terms and conditions allow.

Prices will increase between 10 and 15 percent for oxygen and nitrogen; between 15 and 25 percent for carbon dioxide and dry ice; and 15 percent and 25 percent, respectively, for Argon and Helium. In addition, charges for delivery, materials handling and applicable miscellaneous services will increase accordingly.

Air Liquide continues to employ advanced technologies and efficiencies in its operations in order to provide the solutions and productivity that are important to industrial customers. Price increases are being implemented in response to rapidly increasing energy and labor costs and, in the case of argon and helium, rising costs related to sourcing.

Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP is the subsidiary of American Air Liquide Holdings, Inc. responsible for providing bulk gases and related services to a diverse base of customers in the U.S. including those in the chemical, food, pharmaceutical, metals and automotive industries. American Air Liquide Holdings, Inc. is the subsidiary of Air Liquide Group responsible for its North American operations.

With more than 40,000 employees in 72 countries, Air Liquide occupies a position as world leader in industrial and medical gases and related services. Thanks to innovative solutions based on constantly updated technology, Air Liquide produces air-derived gases (oxygen, nitrogen, argon, rare gases...) and other gases such as hydrogen. In this way the Group contributes to the manufacturing of many products used in daily life: bubbles in carbonated beverages, preservative atmospheres for packaged food, oxygen for hospitals and patients at home, ultra-pure gases used in manufacturing semi-conductors, hydrogen for removing sulfur from fuels...

Air Liquide contributes to the preservation of life and is committed to sustainable development. Since its founding in 1902, Air Liquide has worked to maintain a relationship of trust and transparency with its shareholders, in accordance with the highest principles of corporate governance. Since the publication of its first consolidated accounts in 1971, the Group has maintained a steady increase in earnings. In 2007, its revenue amounted to EU11.8 billion, nearly 80% of which came from outside France. Air Liquide is listed in the Paris Bourse and is a component of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices (code ISIN FR 0000120073).