Air Products Increases All-Cash Offer for Airgas to $65.50 Per Share

Published on Monday, 06 September 2010 16:09 Written by TradersHuddle Staff

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Sept. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Air Products (NYSE: APD) today announced it has increased its fully financed offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG) to $65.50 per share in cash, a premium of more than 50% over the closing price of Airgas' shares on February 4, 2010, the day before Air Products announced its proposal to acquire Airgas.  At $65.50 per share, the acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive to Air Products' earnings per share on both a GAAP and cash basis, excluding one-time costs.

John E. McGlade, Air Products chairman, president and chief executive officer, said, "We have provided Airgas shareholders with a clear path to completing a transaction, and we now need a strong mandate from the independent shareholders in electing the Air Products nominees and approving our by-law proposals at the September 15 Annual Meeting.  Our increased offer delivers a premium of over 50% in cash to Airgas shareholders, removing all risks and future uncertainties.  All principal closing conditions have been satisfied.  After more than 10 months of delay, there is no reason for the Airgas Board to refuse to negotiate a deal with us now.  We look forward to the vote of Airgas shareholders and are confident they will make the right choice and vote their GOLD proxies for three outstanding independent directors and for all our by-law proposals."

Mr. McGlade continued, "We remain mindful of our responsibilities to Air Products' shareholders, and we are confident that acquiring Airgas at a fair and reasonable price will create significant value for them.  If the Air Products nominees are elected and our by-law proposals approved, including holding the 2011 Annual Meeting on January 15, 2011, we stand ready to begin immediate negotiations with Airgas to complete a transaction.  If Airgas shareholders do not elect these three nominees and approve all of our proposals, we will conclude that shareholders do not want a sale of Airgas at this time—and we will therefore terminate our offer and move on to the many other attractive growth opportunities available to Air Products around the world."

Air Products urges Airgas shareholders to vote the GOLD proxy card "FOR" the three Air Products nominees and "FOR" the by-law amendments today as the Airgas Annual Meeting is little more than a week away on Wednesday, September 15, 2011.

The revised offer and withdrawal rights will expire at 12:00 midnight New York City time on October 29, 2010, unless extended.  Except for the price increase, all other terms and conditions of the offer remain unchanged.

Airgas' stockholders may obtain copies of all of the offering documents free of charge at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov) or by directing a request to MacKenzie Partners, Inc., the Information Agent for the offer, at 212-929-5500 or toll-free at 800-322-2885.  Additional information about the transaction, including the offering documents, is also available at www.airproducts.com/airgasoffer.  

Air Products' financial advisors are J. P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Perella Weinberg Partners, its legal advisors are Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP and Arnold & Porter, and its information agent is MacKenzie Partners, Inc.  

Air Products (NYSE: APD) serves customers in industrial, energy, technology and healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, and equipment and services.  Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives.  The company is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment.  In fiscal 2009, Air Products had revenues of $8.3 billion, operations in over 40 countries, and 18,900 employees around the globe.  For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

On February 11, 2010, Air Products Distribution, Inc. ("Purchaser"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. ("Air Products"), commenced a cash tender offer for all the outstanding shares of common stock of Airgas, Inc. ("Airgas") not already owned by Air Products, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated as of February 11, 2010 (the "Offer to Purchase").  The purchase price to be paid upon the successful closing of the cash tender offer is $65.50 per share in cash, without interest and less any required withholding tax, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, as amended.  The offer is scheduled to expire at midnight, New York City time, on Friday, October 29, 2010, unless further extended in the manner set forth in the Offer to Purchase.

This communication does not constitute an offer to buy or solicitation of an offer to sell any securities. The tender offer is being made pursuant to a tender offer statement on Schedule TO (including the Offer to Purchase, a related letter of transmittal and other offer materials) filed by Air Products with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on February 11, 2010. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF AIRGAS ARE URGED TO READ THESE AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders can obtain free copies of these documents and other documents filed with the SEC by Air Products through the web site maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.  The Offer to Purchase and related materials may also be obtained for free by contacting the Information Agent for the tender offer, MacKenzie Partners, Inc., at 212-929-5500 or toll-free at 800-322-2885.

Air Products has filed a definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A dated July 29, 2010 with the SEC in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the 2010 annual meeting of Airgas stockholders.  The definitive proxy statement has been mailed to shareholders of Airgas.  INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF AIRGAS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE SOLICITATION AND FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.  Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of these documents (if and when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by Air Products through the web site maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.  These materials may also be obtained for free by contacting Air Products' proxy solicitor for the 2010 Airgas annual meeting, MacKenzie Partners, Inc., at 212-929-5500 or toll-free at 800-322-2885.

CERTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING PARTICIPANTS

Air Products, Purchaser, and certain of their respective directors and executive officers and the Air Products nominees may be deemed to be participants in the proposed transaction under the rules of the SEC. Security holders may obtain information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of Air Products' directors and executive officers in Air Products' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2009, which was filed with the SEC on November 25, 2009, and its proxy statement for the 2010 Annual Meeting, which was filed with the SEC on December 10, 2009; and of Purchaser's directors and executive officers in the Offer to Purchase.  Information about the Air Products nominees is included in the definitive proxy statement Air Products filed with the SEC on July 29, 2010 relating to the 2010 annual meeting of Airgas stockholders.  These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.  Additional information regarding the interests of these participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is also included in the definitive proxy statement filed by Air Products with the SEC.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

All statements included or incorporated by reference in this communication other than statements or characterizations of historical fact, are forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our business and industry, management's beliefs, and certain assumptions made by us, all of which are subject to change.  Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "plans", "predicts", "believes", "seeks", "estimates", "may", "will", "should", "would", "could", "potential", "continue", "ongoing", similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words.  These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statement.  Important risk factors that could contribute to such differences or otherwise affect our business, results of operations and financial condition include the possibility that Air Products will not pursue a transaction with Airgas and the risk factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other SEC filings.  The forward-looking statements in this release speak only as of the date of this filing.  We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement, except as required by law.

SOURCE Air Products