On 15 September 2015, the Hungarian subsidiary of Messer – the largest privately managed industrial gas specialist which has its head office in Bad Soden near Frankfurt am Main – signed a purchase contract with Air Liquide Eastern Europe S.A. to buy 100 per cent of the shares in Air Liquide Hungary Ipari Gáztermelő Kft. Messer Hungarogáz takes over more than 50 employees, plus its assets and customer relationships. Execution of the contract is subject to antitrust approval, which is expected to come through in about six months.

The assets concerned include an on-site air separation unit, two nitrogen generators, a filling plant for gas cylinders, and road tankers, customer tanks and steel cylinders. “Both companies ideally complement” says Stefan Messer, owner and CEO of the Messer Group, explaining the transaction. “ The activities will be integrated quickly in order to enhance efficiency of the two operations. We are glad to welcome our new customers and employees in Hungary.”