Air Liquide enters Saudi Arabia’s Home Healthcare market

January 3, 2018

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With the acquisition of the respiratory division of Thimar Al Jazirah Company (TAC) in Saudi Arabia, Air Liquide enters the Home Healthcare market in the Kingdom, and expands its Healthcare activity in the Middle East.

TAC is a leading actor in the pharmaceutical, medical and dental industries within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Acquired through a majority equity stake (60%), the TAC Home Healthcare division specializes in the distribution of respiratory equipment and sleep disorder diagnosis services for patients suffering from respiratory conditions (sleep apnea, ventilation, chronic respiratory failure). TAC is the main player in this field in Saudi Arabia, serving over 1,400 patients at home throughout the country. The Home Healthcare division of TAC generated a revenue of over €5.5 million in 2016.

This acquisition reinforces the healthcare position of Air Liquide in Saudi Arabia, where it already supplies medical gases to hospitals. It also represents the entry into a territory with high potential for Air Liquide's Home Healthcare activity. The acquired entity has joined VitalAire, Air Liquide’s global brand for Home Healthcare.

With a population of over 32 million, rising healthcare needs and a commitment from public authorities to improve the quality of healthcare services in the Kingdom, the healthcare sector in KSA presents a strong potential with notably an increasing opening to foreign investors driven by the Saudi government’s 2030 Vision.

François Jackow, member of the Air Liquide Group’s Executive Committee, supervising Healthcare activities, said: “With this acquisition, Air Liquide pursues the development of its activity in Saudi Arabia and expands its Healthcare business in the Middle East. We are welcoming new TAC employees to Air Liquide’s operations and are looking forward to bringing high quality of service and first class innovations to patients in Saudi Arabia, as we do for more than 1.4 million patients around the world every day.”

Air Liquide in Saudi Arabia

Air Liquide announced its entry into Saudi Arabia in 2008 and now serves the Saudi market through two subsidiaries: Air Liquide Khafrah Industrial Gases (ALKIG) and Air Liquide Arabia (ALAR). ALKIG covers industrial, healthcare and electronics activities, delivering gas solutions to a wide range of customers through cylinders, bulk or on-site supplies. ALAR is a leader in the over-the-fence supply of industrial gases to major industries in Saudi Arabia, providing large volumes of industrial gases for refining, petrochemical and metal industries.

Air Liquide Healthcare

Supplies medical gases, home healthcare services, hygiene products, medical equipment and specialty ingredients. In 2016, it served over 15,000 hospitals and clinics and more than 1.4 million patients at home throughout the world. The Group’s Healthcare business reached €3,111 million in revenues in 2016, with the support of its 15,000 employees.