Industrial gases: Air Liquide to buy Airgas for USD 13.4 bn

France's Air Liquide announced today that it will acquire Airgas of the United States for USD 13.4 billion to build the world's largest industrial gas company.
Air Liquide said the transaction would significantly enhance its position in the US, the world's leading market for industrial gases.
The deal catapults Air Liquide past Linde AG of Germany as the industry's largest company by revenue.