Airgas Acquires Dantack Corporation

The operations will be managed by Airgas Southwest, one of theAirgas regional companies, as a stand-alone business for the first fewmonths. Later, operations in Ohio and Virginia will transition toother Airgas regions.

Airgas is one of the largest distributors of safety products inthe U.S. with $438 million in sales in fiscal 2007 through telesalesand field-based safety specialists within its regional companies.

The owners of the business for the past two decades, Cathy Croyand Mark Dannemiller, will oversee the transition, in which about 40Dantack employees are being offered employment by Airgas in the threelocations. Mark Dannemiller is joining Airgas Southwest as a generalmanager for safety sales. Dantack President Cathy Croy remains as aconsultant during the integration.

"Dantack's extensive local coverage throughout Texas, combinedwith its national accounts program, makes it a great strategic fit forAirgas," said Brent Sparks, president of Airgas Southwest. "We welcomeDantack's associates and customers and look forward to merging itsbusiness with our own strong safety business."

"We believe joining forces with Airgas will provide the bestlong-term opportunities for Dantack's associates and customers," saidDannemiller. "Our customers will benefit from Airgas' intense focus oncustomer service, with access to all the leading brands of safetyproducts, plus access to the broader product offering of the nation'slargest distributor of packaged gases and related products."

About Airgas, Inc.

Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: - ), through its subsidiaries, is the largestU.S. distributor of industrial, medical, and specialty gases, andhardgoods, such as welding equipment and supplies. Airgas is also oneof the largest U.S. distributors of safety products, the largest U.S.producer of nitrous oxide and dry ice, the largest liquid carbondioxide producer in the Southeast, and a leading distributor ofprocess chemicals, refrigerants, and ammonia products. More than14,000 employees work in over 1,100 locations, including branches,retail stores, gas fill plants, specialty gas labs, productionfacilities and distribution centers. Airgas also distributes itsproducts and services through eBusiness, catalog and telesaleschannels. Its national scale and strong local presence offer acompetitive edge to its diversified customer base. For moreinformation, please visit .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain statements that are forwardlooking, as that term is defined by the Private Securities LitigationReform Act of 1995 or by the Securities and Exchange Commission in itsrules, regulations and releases. These statements include, but are notlimited to, statements regarding: plans for Airgas Southwest to manageDantack operations as a stand-alone business for the first few months;expectations to later transition operations in Ohio and Virginia toother Airgas regions; intentions to offer approximately 40 formerDantack employees positions with Airgas; and, the belief thatDantack's local coverage in Texas and national accounts program makesthem a great strategic fit for Airgas. We intend that suchforward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors createdthereby. All forward-looking statements are based on currentexpectations regarding important risk factors and should not beregarded as a representation by us or any other person that theresults expressed therein will be achieved. Important factors thatcould cause actual results to differ materially from those containedin any forward-looking statement include: : our ability tosuccessfully integrate the former Dantack Corporation, includingretention of both customers and employees; supply availability andcost pressures; the Company's ability to identify, consummate andsuccessfully integrate future acquisitions; an economic downturn;increased competition; customer acceptance of the Company's products;adverse changes in customer buying patterns; adverse changes ingeneral economic conditions; political and economic uncertaintiesassociated with current world events; and other factors described inthe Company's reports, including Form 10-K dated March 31, 2007 andother forms filed by the Company with the Securities and ExchangeCommission.