<PAGE>
<PAGE> 1
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported):
March 22, 1996
AIRGAS, INC.
______________________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 1-9344 56-0732648
_______________ _______________________ _____________
(State or other (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of Identification
incorporation) No.)
100 Matsonford Road, Suite 550
Radnor, PA 19087
_______________________________________
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (610) 687-5253
_______________
<PAGE> 2
Item 5. Other Events.
____________
On March 22, 1996, the Registrant announced that its Board of Directors
approved a two-for-one split of its common stock as described in the press
release attached as Exhibit 99 and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
__________________________________________________________________
(a) None
(b) None
(c) Exhibits.
99 Press Release dated March 22, 1996
<PAGE> 3
Signatures
__________
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
AIRGAS, INC.
BY: /s/ Jeffrey P. Cornwell
_______________________
(Jeffrey P. Cornwell)
Assistant Vice President
Corporate Controller
DATED: March 27, 1996
<PAGE>
<PAGE> 4
For Additional Information:
Jeffrey P. Cornwell
James Borum
610-687-5253
AIRGAS, INC. ANNOUNCES TWO FOR ONE STOCK SPLIT
______________________________________________
RADNOR, Pennsylvania, March 22, 1996 - Airgas, Inc. (NYSE-ARG) today
announced that its Board of Directors has approved a two-for-one stock split
of its common stock.
The Company cited its desire to enhance the market liquidity of the
Company's common stock. The Company will issue one share of common stock for
each share held, issuable on April 15, 1996, to stockholders of record on
April 1, 1996. Prior to the stock split, the Company has approximately 31.9
million shares of common stock outstanding.
Through the nine months ended December 31, 1995, the Company has
reported a 30% increase in net earnings and a 25% increase in cash flow (net
earnings plus depreciation, amortization and deferred income taxes) compared
to the prior year period. In addition to the solid earnings growth, the
Company is enjoying a record setting year for acquisitions. Since April 1,
1995, Airgas has completed or announced letters of intent for the acquisition
of 38 distributors with annual sales of approximately $204 million.
Airgas, Inc. is the largest distributor of industrial, medical and
specialty gases and related equipment in North America with 510 locations and
annual sales of approximately $950 million.
<PAGE>
