On August 1, Air Liquide Japan acquired more than 90% of the shares of Sohgo-Industry (capital: 42 million) headquartered in Tokyo which is influential in the field of home healthcare business including mainly medical gases and home oxygen treatment (HOT). There is no disclosure of the amount of M&A.

Sohgo-Industry established in September 1958 is a gas distributor celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. With its competitive power in the field of medical gases, it has so far been selling medical gases and the related equipment to more than 2,000 hospitals and clinics, and also engaging in home healthcare services to the patients of respiratory disease.
　
With the acquisition at this time, the number of home healthcare patients to whom the Air Liquide group (mainly VitalAire Japan) provided services in Japan will probably exceed 20 thousand making group’s healthcare business grow to a great extent.

Sohgo-Industry with about 150 employees having the skill of home healthcare sold about 3.3 billion yen in 2016. Air Liquide says, “Globally, the scale of Japanese HOT market is at the third place following US and France. It is expected to keep growing further under the sound medical insurance and the social welfare systems. We intend to strengthen the foundation of this business in Japan by enlivening the strong power of Sohgo-Industry.”

Francois Jackow, member of the Air Liquide Executive Committee, supervising the Healthcare activities commented “With this acquisition Air Liquide pursues the development of its Healthcare activity in a growing Asian market that benefits from a strong potential. We are delighted to welcome Sohgo-Industry’s teams in Air Liquide Group. Thanks to their know-how combined with Air Liquide expertise, we will deliver greater value to healthcare professionals and patients. This acquisition, which allows us to develop our activities in Japan, will also fuel our future growth.”