Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Announces Filing of a Class Action Lawsuit Against Airgas, Inc.

NEW YORK, Jan. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Notice is hereby given that Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP has filed a class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, case no. 2:15-cv-06787, on behalf of unitholders of Airgas, Inc. ("Airgas" or the "Company") (NYSE:ARG) who held (and continue to hold) Airgas securities acquired on or before November 17, 2015.

On November 17, 2015, the Company entered into a Purchase Agreement and Plan of Merger ("Merger Agreement") under which L'Air Liquide, S.A. ("Air Liquid") will acquire all of the outstanding units of Airgas through the newly formed subsidiary AL Acquisition Corporation. The unit-for-unit transaction is valued at approximately $13.4 billion.

The complaint charges Airgas, its Board of Directors, and affiliated corporate entities and individuals with violations of Sections 14(a) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act").

If you wish to obtain information concerning this action or view a copy of the complaint, you can do so by clicking here: www.faruqilaw.com/ARGnotice.

Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, which was unanimously approved by the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board" or "Individual Defendants"), Airgas unitholders will receive $143.00 in cash per share for each unit of Airgas they own. However, the complaint alleges that the offer does not reflect the Company's inherent and long-term value based on recent financial reports.

Furthermore, according to the complaint, the Merger Agreement includes a non-solicitation provision, a matching rights provision, and a $400 million termination fee which essentially ensure that a superior bidder will not emerge, as any potential suitor will undoubtedly be deterred from expending the time, cost, and effort of making a superior proposal.

The complaint also alleges that the preliminary proxy statement (the "Proxy") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on December 8, 2015 provided materially incomplete and misleading disclosures, thereby violating Sections 14(a) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act. The Proxy denies Airgas unitholders material information concerning the financial and procedural fairness of the Merger.

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Plaintiff is represented by Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a law firm with extensive experience in prosecuting class actions, and significant expertise in actions involving corporate fraud.  Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, was founded in 1995 and the firm maintains its principal office in New York City, with offices in Delaware, California, and Pennsylvania.

If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than March 12, 2016.  Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member.  If you wish to discuss this action, or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, please contact:

Juan E. Monteverde, Esq.
FARUQI & FARUQI, LLP
685 3rd Avenue, 26th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (877) 247-4292 or (212) 983-9330
E-mail: [email protected]

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SOURCE Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP

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