Red-D-Arc Welderentals, an Airgas Company, Acquires eKipro Rentals and Grupo Industrial Daymaga in Mexico


RADNOR, PA – Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG), one of the nation's leading suppliers of industrial, medical, and specialty gases, and related products, today announced that Red-D-Arc Welderentals, an Airgas company, has acquired the assets and operations of eKipro Rentals and Grupo Industrial Daymaga, known collectively as "eKipro." Headquartered in Villahermosa, Tabasco in Mexico, eKipro is a specialty equipment rental and services company that generated $16 million USD ($212 million MXN) in sales in calendar year 2014. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.



eKipro's five locations in Poza Rica, Veracruz; Tampico, Tamaulipas; Salamanca, Guanajuato; Hermosillo, Sonora; and Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche and more than 100 associates joined Airgas' Red-D-Arc Welderentals subsidiary, effective May 1, 2015.



"The acquisition of eKipro will increase Red-D-Arc's presence in Mexico and strengthen our position in this important area, particularly within Mexico's energy sector," said Mitch Imielinski, President of Red-D-Arc Welderentals. "We're very pleased to welcome our new associates and customers to the Airgas family and look forward to continuing to offer excellent service and an expansive range of products."



eKipro was founded in 2008 by Mauricio Gracia Peña. "I believe the quality of service and breadth of product offering available to current and future customers in Mexico of both companies will be stronger with this combination," said Gracia Peña. "It is an honor for the eKipro team and me to join Airgas through Red-D-Arc."



Red-D-Arc Welderentals is the largest provider of welding and welding-related rental products and services in North America, with over 60,000 welders, 3,700 weld positioning and weld automation products, and over 1,600 electric power generators in their fleet. Red-D-Arc's international presence includes service centers in Canada, Mexico, Europe, and the Middle East and a dealer network that includes the Caribbean, the Middle East, Kazakhstan, and Australia.



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. Approximately 17,000 associates work in more than 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 e-Business, 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:

Joseph Marczely

610-263-8277

joseph.marczely@airgas.com



Media Contact:

Sarah Boxler

610-263-8260

sarah.boxler@airgas.com



Airgas, Inc.

259 North Radnor-Chester Road Suite 100, Radnor, PA 19087-5283

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