L'Air Liquide SA has just signed a long-term contract with Fujian Shenyuan New Materials Co. Ltd. to supply industrial gases for its caprolactam production project located in Lianjiang Kemen Economic & Development Zone, Fujian Province, South-East of China. Under the terms of the contract, Air Liquide will invest in an industrial gases complex of eight units including an Air Separation Unit of 2,000 tonnes of oxygen per day, a Gasification unit, a Purification unit of synthesis gas (Rectisol) and an ammonia plant to supply hydrogen, nitrogen and ammonia. Six plants out of the eight of the complex are based on Air Liquide's proprietary world-leading technologies. They will contribute to purify synthesis gas and avoid sulfur emissions, which are notably responsible for acid rain. In addition, Air Liquide possesses strong operations and engineering integration capabilities in China as well as expertise in coal gasification in terms of energy efficiency, enabling the Group to operate a full supply chain from coal and oxygen to pure hydrogen. These plants, to be commissioned beginning of 2016, will produce 75,000 Nm(3) /h of hydrogen and 250,000 tonnes per year of ammonia. Pure oxygen is used to transform coal in synthetic gas, to produce hydrogen. Hydrogen and ammonia are necessary for the production of caprolactam, an intermediate for nylon in the textiles industry.

L'Air Liquide SA announced that the proposed dividend, with an ex-date of May 16 and payment date of May 22, was approved: it has been set at EUR 2.50 per share, an increase of +10.3%, taking into account the attribution of one free share for every 10 existing shares in 2012. Shares held in registered form continually since December 31, 2010 until May 22, 2013, the payment date of the dividend, will be granted an increase in the dividend of EUR 0.25 per share, a bonus of 10%.

L'Air Liquide SA announced consolidated revenue results for the first quarter of 2013. For the quarter, the company reported total revenue of EUR 3,698 million against EUR 3,779 million a year ago. Net capital expenditure, including transactions with minority interests, stood at EUR 531 million for the quarter, including EUR 53 million for acquisitions. Group efficiency gains for the quarter reached EUR 59 million, in line both with previous first quarters and the new objective of more than EUR 250 million each year. This performance is the result of the contribution of many projects all around the group in purchasing, logistics and energy efficiency. The structural adaptation plans continue to be strengthened in countries where growth is more modest. Cash from operations after change in working capital up 10% year on year was solid for the first three months of the year reaching EUR 464 million and providing the financing for the EUR 478 million of industrial capital expenditure. The group maintains its full year guidance to deliver net profit growth in 2013.