Feb 21 2007
Praxair Inc. announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement with The Linde Group to acquire Linde's industrial and medical gases business in Mexico. Linde's Mexican business operates under the name of AGA S.A. de C.V. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction excludes the Mexican assets of the BOC Group, which Linde acquired as part of their worldwide acquisition of BOC.
The agreement has been approved by Mexico's Federal Competition Commission and the transaction is expected to close in a few weeks.
The sale of Linde's Mexican business is part of a mutual agreement between Praxair and Linde under which Linde acquired the Turkey-based industrial gases producer Karbogaz A. S. in July, 2006. Karbogaz was formerly a joint venture company between Praxair and Ismail Aytemiz of Istanbul, Turkey.
AGA S.A. de C.V. was acquired by the Linde Group in 1999 as part of its acquisition of Swedish gases producer AGA A.B. The business operates throughout Mexico, generating sales of approximately $75 million in fiscal 2006.
"The acquisition of AGA S.A. de C.V. will increase our presence in the metropolitan area of Mexico City and place Praxair Mexico in a position to maintain its strong sales growth in the years ahead," said Eduardo Menezes, managing director, Praxair Mexico.