Japan Air Gases acquires capital in a major gas dealers in Niigata [Sep, 30, 2008]   We are pleased to announce that Air Liquide Japan Ltd., Japan Air Gases Co., has made a equity participation in K.K. Kaneko Shokai. K.K. Kaneko Shokai is the leading gas dealers in Niigata, and has forged a good relationship with us for long, through, for instance, jointly running a gas filling company, Niigata IGS, and seconded employees from Japan Air Gases to Kaneko Shokai. Since 2004, we have organized our dealers network, called Japan Air Gases D-net, to which about 250 dealers across Japan are belonging, to aim for synergy for both Japan Air Gases, which has world-wide know-how and technology, and member dealers, which have close relationships with customers in their areas. To further tighten our partnership with Kaneko Shokai, which has well-established its position as a major gas dealer in Niigata, and also as a key member of D-net, will ensure improvement of our service to those customers in the region, and development of our gas business. Profile of Kaneko Shokai 　　　 　　　Location: 3935 Irifune-cho 5-chome, Chuo-ku, Niigata Prefecture 　　　Representative: Toshitaka Ara 　　　Business started: November, 1928 　　　Capital: 100 million yen 　　　Sales Amount: about 10 billion yen Japan Air Gases Co, established in Jan 2003 with an industrial- and medical-gas business integration between Japan Air Liquide (founded in 1907) and Osaka Sanso Kogyo (in 1934), became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air Liquide in Mar 2007. In Sept 2007, Japan Air Gases and Japan Air Liquide merged to newly form Japan Air Liquide and introduced “internal company system” at the same time to clarify continuation and individuality of its gas & service businesses and plant engineering operations conducted theretofore separately by the former two companies. In other words, “Japan Air Gases,” as its internal company of Japan Air Liquide, has undertaken the gas & service operations carried out until then by Japan Air Gases, whereas “Air Liquide Engineering” has taken on plant engineering operations. Contact: Toyoyama, Shun, Communication Dept., Japan Air Gases Company, Air Liquide Japan Ltd. TEL:03-3536-2642 URL:http://www.japanairgases.co.jp/ Copyright © 2008 Japan Air Gases Ltd. All Rights Reserved.