PARIS (dpa-AFX) - Air Liquide SA (AIQUY.PK) reported that its first-quarter Group revenue reached 5.18 billion euros, up 1.5% on a comparable basis and surged 38.5% on a reported basis compared with a year ago. The latest quarter's results include the consolidation of Airgas sales.
First-quarter sales in Gas & Services, which amounted to 5.05 billion euros, rose by 2.8% on a comparable basis and grew 42.2% on a reported basis.
Benoît Potier, Chairman and CEO of Air Liquide, said, 'The strong growth in sales this quarter reflects the Group's new scale as a result of the acquisition of Airgas. The increase in sales was also the result of a significant improvement in Industrial Merchant, the Group's largest business line, the solid growth in Healthcare and to a lesser extent in Large Industries, as well as the strength of the Global Markets & Technologies business.'
Looking ahead, Air Liquide said it is thus on track in the implementation of its company program for the period from 2016 to 2020.
Assuming a comparable environment, Air Liquide affirmed that is confident in its ability to deliver net profit growth in 2017.
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