Airgas Issues $600 Million of Senior Notes
RADNOR, PAÂ – Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG) announced today it has priced $325 million of 1.650% senior notes due February 15, 2018 and $275 million of 2.375% senior notes due February 15, 2020. The offering is expected to close on February 14, 2013, subject to customary closing conditions. The Company's long-term debt is rated Baa2 by Moody's Investors Service and BBB by Standard and Poor's Corporation.
The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including to fund acquisitions, to repay indebtedness under the Company's commercial paper program
 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 commercial paper program.
Goldman, Sachs & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, served as Joint Book-Running Managers on this transaction.
The notes are being offered under a shelf registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The offering will be made only by means of a preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus, copies of which may be obtained by contacting 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, 1525 West W.T. Harris Blvd., NC0675, Charlotte, North Carolina 28262, Attention: Capital Markets Client Support, toll-free: 800-326-5897 or emailing: cmclientsupport@wellsfargo.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 described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
About Airgas, Inc.
Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG), through its subsidiaries, is one of the nation's leading suppliers of industrial, medical and specialty gases, and hardgoods, such as welding equipment and related products. Airgas is a leading U.S. producer of atmospheric gases with 16 air separation plants, a leading producer of carbon dioxide, dry ice, and nitrous oxide, one of the largest U.S. suppliers of safety products, and a leading U.S. supplier of refrigerants, ammonia products, and process chemicals. More than 15,000 employees work in approximately 1,100 locations, including branches, retail stores, gas fill plants, specialty gas labs, production facilities and distribution centers. Airgas also markets 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 .
Investor Contact:
Barry Strzelec (610) 902-6256
barry.strzelec@airgas.com
Media Contact:
Doug Sherman (610) 902-6270
doug.sherman@airgas.com
Airgas, Inc.
259 North Radnor-Chester Road Suite 100
Radnor, PA 19087-5283
