Praxair Inc., Danbury, CT, has agreed to buy The Linde Group’s industrial and medical gases business in Mexico. Linde’s Mexican business operates under the name of AGA S.A. de C.V. The transaction excludes the Mexican assets of the BOC Group, which Linde acquired as part of its acquisition of BOC.
The sale of Linde’s Mexican business is part of a mutual agreement between Praxair and Linde under which Linde acquired the Turkey-based industrial gases producer Karbogaz A. S. in July 2006. Karbogaz was formerly a joint venture company between Praxair and Ismail Aytemiz of Istanbul, Turkey.
AGA S.A. de C.V. has sales of about $75 million in fiscal 2006.
The acquisition of AGA S.A. de C.V. will increase our presence in the metropolitan area of Mexico City and place …
Latest In Gases & Welding Equipment
Industrial gases producer and distributor Praxair, Inc., Danbury, CT, reported sales of $8.3 billion for 2006, an increase of 10% over last year. In North America, sales reached $4.6 billion for the year, up 9%.
  ;
Sales in the fourth quarter were $2.123 billion, up 9% from the same period a year ago. In North America, fourth-quarter sales hit $1.182 billion, up 6%.
  ;
Praxair achieved strong growth from new business and the start-up of new supply systems in every geography and end market.
  ;
Sales growth occurred in most major end markets and the company completed seven major projects in 2006. Additionally, the number of new projects underway and set to come on stream in the next several years increased significantly …
Praxair Distribution, Inc., Danbury, CT, a subsidiary of Praxair, Inc., has agreed to buy Mittler Supply Inc., distributor of industrial, medical, specialty gases and related welding equipment and supplies, operating in Indiana, Michigan and Illinois. Mittler had sales of $73 million in 2006 and has 210 employees.
  ;
Founded in 1946, Mittler operates a cylinder-gas fill plant, specialty-gas laboratory and a centralized warehouse for distribution of welding equipment and supplies at its headquarters located in South Bend, IN. The firm also operates several satellite cylinder-gas fill plants and 18 retail sales and distribution locations in the three states.
  ;
“The addition of Mittler Supply to our existing network in the Great Lakes …
Air Products, Lehigh Valley, PA, has agreed to acquire the industrial gas business of Central Europe-based BOC Gazy Sp z o.o. from Linde Gas for 370 million euros (US$481 million).  ;
  ;
For regulatory purposes, BOC Gazy was required to be sold by Linde as a result of its purchase of The BOC Group plc in September 2006.
  ;
The BOC Gazy business had fiscal year 2006 sales of 126 million euros ($164  ; million).  ; The business has 750  ; employees, five industrial gas plants and six cylinder transfills serving customers across a diverse range of industries, including chemicals, steel and base metals, among others.
  ;
“We’re taking advantage of a unique opportunity to become the number one industrial …
Airgas, Inc., Radnor, PA, has acquired CFC Refimax, LLC, a full-service refrigerant supplier and reclamation company based in Atlanta, GA.  ; The business, which has about 50 employees, had about $21 million in annual sales in 2006.
  ;
Refimax has been integrated into Airgas Specialty Products, national distributor of ammonia products and services, various process chemicals, and refrigerants. Airgas Specialty Products is part of the Gas Operations Division, which also includes Airgas Carbonic and Dry Ice, and Airgas Nitrous Oxide.  ;
  ;
Refimax has operations in Atlanta and Houston, and five third-party distribution warehouse locations in York, PA; Reno, NV; Indianapolis, IN; New Orleans, LA; and Dallas, TX. …
Praxair Distribution, Danbury, CT, a division of Praxair Canada Inc., has acquired the Canadian propane tank-exchange business of Blue Rhino, a Ferrellgas Partners L.P. company.
Under the agreement, Praxair acquired more than 900 propane tank-exchange display cages at retail locations across Canada. In addition, it will take over the contract to supply more than 300 retail gasoline stations belonging to Shell Canada Products with 20-pound propane tanks for their exchange program. In conjunction with this transaction, Praxair also signed a distributor agreement with Superior Tank Incorporated. Superior Tank will serve Praxair’s propane tank-exchange customers in the Atlantic Provinces.
Previously, Praxair provided propane …
