nexAir makes acquisition, gains 200 employees

by | Jan 13, 2020

Reprinted from John Klyce | Memphis Business Journal
As nexAir enters its 80th year, it continues to strengthen its foothold in the Southeast.

On Jan. 6, the industrial and medical gas distributor announced it had acquired Linde LifeGas and its packaged gas product businesses from Linde Gas North America LLC.

The purchase includes 16 LifeGas branch locations — in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee — and a production facility in Union City, Georgia. About 200 Linde Gas employees will join nexAir’s workforce, according to Milton Lovell, the company’s CFO.

“We bought a good business. It was a strong business with a lot of good customers, employees, and branches,” Lovell told the Memphis Business Journal. “And, we want to make that even better.”

The acquisition gives nexAir LLC a total of 79 locations and 800 employees across 10 states. Now, it must smoothly integrate the new facilities, employees, and customers into its company.

“We are taking on 17 locations, 200 additional employees, and a large number of new customers who are not used to doing business with nexAir,” Lovell said. “We want to transition all of those branches and operations into the nexAir culture, and try to analyze the customers to see what opportunities we can bring them.”

Going forward, Lovell said the company will continue to bolster its presence in the region, whether that means obtaining new assets, employees, or locations. However, they don’t have plans for further expansion — yet.

“We don’t have any specific plans, but that doesn’t mean we’re not looking for good opportunities,” Lovell said. “We want to continue to position ourselves to serve our customers in the best way that we can.”

Headquartered in Memphis, nexAir sells, packages, and distributes medical, specialty, and industrial gases. It also sells related products, such as welding equipment, safety supplies, and dry ice.