On March 9, Taiyo Nippon Sanso announced that it bought, through its American affiliate Matheson Tri-gas, Sims Welding Supply of gas distributor in California and the Hawaiian gas business operations of Air Liquide America. The amount for the acquisitions is not disclosed to the public. Sims Welding Supply which is a community-based gas distributor having seven business locations in the suburbs of Los Angeles, to which Matheson Tri-gas has been selling liquid nitrogen since more than 10 years ago.

Air Liquide America, on the other hand, has five locations on four Hawaiian Islands including an air separation unit (ASU), producing/selling air separation gases and also being engaged in purchasing/selling of carbon dioxide and welding materials. It dominates the Hawaiian market over the other several gas companies. With the acquisition TNSC has obtained a business base for the first time in Hawaii.

TNSC has been promoting to acquire gas distributing bases in the United States since some years ago, and is now aiming to build up an ASU every year in the States.