Airgas Issues $250 Million of 2.95% Senior Notes Due 2016
RADNOR, PA - May 31, 2011 -- Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG) announced today it has priced $250 million of 2.95% senior notes due June 15, 2016. The notes are being offered under a shelf registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The offering is expected to close on June 3, 2011, and proceeds of the offering will be used for general corporate purposes including acquisitions, to repay indebtedness under the Company's revolving credit facilities, and to repurchase shares pursuant to the Company's stock repurchase program. Initially, the Company expects to use the net proceeds to repay indebtedness under its revolving credit facilities. The Company's long-term debt is rated BBB by Standard and Poor's Corporation and Baa2 by Moody's Investors Service.
Goldman, Sachs & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, served as Joint Book-Running Managers on this transaction. The offering will be made only by means of a preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus, copies of which may be obtained from: Goldman, Sachs & Co. at 866-471-2526 or prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated at 800-294-1322 or dg.prospectus_requests@baml.com and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC at 800-326-5897 or cmClientsupport@wachovia.com. A copy of the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus may also be obtained at no charge at the Securities and Exchange Commission's website, at www.sec.gov.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities.
About Airgas, Inc.
Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG), through its subsidiaries, is the largest U.S. distributor of industrial, medical, and specialty gases, and hardgoods, such as welding equipment and supplies. Airgas is also one of the largest U.S. distributors of safety products, the largest U.S. producer of nitrous oxide and dry ice, the largest liquid carbon dioxide producer in the Southeast, and a leading distributor of process chemicals, refrigerants, and ammonia products. More than 14,000 employees work in approximately 1,100 locations, including branches, retail stores, gas fill plants, specialty gas labs, production facilities and distribution centers. Airgas also distributes its products and services through eBusiness, catalog and telesales channels. Its national scale and strong local presence offer a competitive edge to its diversified customer base. For more information, please visit www.airgas.com.
Media Contact:
Jay Worley (610) 902-6206
jay.worley@airgas.com
Investor Contact:
Barry Strzelec (610) 902-6256
barry.strzelec@airgas.com
Airgas, Inc.
259 North Radnor-Chester Road Suite 100, Radnor, PA 19087-5283
