NEW YORK, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Air Products and Chemicals said on Monday it raised its bid for Airgas Inc to $5.5 billion, the latest salvo in its hostile bid for the rival company.
The new Air Products cash offer of $65.50 a share represents a 3 percent increase from its previous bid of $63.50. The company said the price would mark a premium of more than 50 percent to the Airgas closing price on Feb. 4, the day before the takeover drive began. Air Products had made a $60 a share bid for the company in February.
If successful, Air Products would become the biggest industrial gas company in North America, and it could gain substantial benefits from the economy's resurgence as the recession abates.
Airgas, which has called previous offers 'grossly inadequate,' is scheduled to hold an annual meeting on Sept. 15 at which Air Products is hoping to have its nominees for the board elected.
Air Products, which supplies gases such as argon, helium and nitrogen to customers in the metals, chemical and pharmaceuticals sectors, wants Airgas for its large sales and distribution network and 1,500 sales representatives.
Airgas sells canisters of specialty gases to industrial and medical facilities, and buys much of its gas from Air Products.
Air Products said that if Airgas shareholders do not elect its three nominees to the board at the meeting, it would terminate the offer and pursue 'other attractive growth opportunities.'
Shares of Airgas closed at $66.67 on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday.
(Reporting by Paul Thomasch and Megan Davies; Editing by Kenneth Barry and Diane Craft)
((paul.thomasch@thomsonreuters.com; 1 646 223-6092; Reuters Messaging: paul.thomasch.reuters.com@reuters.com)) Keywords: AIRGAS/ (Visit http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/ for more coverage at the Reuters MediaFile blog) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
The new Air Products cash offer of $65.50 a share represents a 3 percent increase from its previous bid of $63.50. The company said the price would mark a premium of more than 50 percent to the Airgas closing price on Feb. 4, the day before the takeover drive began. Air Products had made a $60 a share bid for the company in February.
If successful, Air Products would become the biggest industrial gas company in North America, and it could gain substantial benefits from the economy's resurgence as the recession abates.
Airgas, which has called previous offers 'grossly inadequate,' is scheduled to hold an annual meeting on Sept. 15 at which Air Products is hoping to have its nominees for the board elected.
Air Products, which supplies gases such as argon, helium and nitrogen to customers in the metals, chemical and pharmaceuticals sectors, wants Airgas for its large sales and distribution network and 1,500 sales representatives.
Airgas sells canisters of specialty gases to industrial and medical facilities, and buys much of its gas from Air Products.
Air Products said that if Airgas shareholders do not elect its three nominees to the board at the meeting, it would terminate the offer and pursue 'other attractive growth opportunities.'
Shares of Airgas closed at $66.67 on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday.
(Reporting by Paul Thomasch and Megan Davies; Editing by Kenneth Barry and Diane Craft)
((paul.thomasch@thomsonreuters.com; 1 646 223-6092; Reuters Messaging: paul.thomasch.reuters.com@reuters.com)) Keywords: AIRGAS/ (Visit http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/ for more coverage at the Reuters MediaFile blog) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.