Praxair Buys Messer Industrial Gases Business In Italy

(RTTNews) - Industrial gases company Praxair Inc. (PX) said Wednesday it has acquired Messer Italia S.p.A's liquid carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen and argon and packaged gases businesses in a bid to strengthen its position in Italy. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The acquired businesses will be integrated into the operations of Praxair's Italian joint venture, Rivoira S.p.A.

"We continue to execute on our business strategy of building out production and distribution density in key geographies," said Todd Skare, president, Praxair Europe."

Also Praxair said it sold its industrial gases operations in France to Messer France SAS. Praxair's French operations included three air separation units and two packaged gas filling stations. The deal is part of a strategy to invest in core geographies.