Air Liquide Buys Ethicon Unit’s Hygiene Arm

Air Liquide’s subsidiary Schülke, which specializes in hygiene and hospital disinfection products, is acquiring all of the assets of Healthcare Antisepsis Solutions (HAS) in Asia-Pacific.
HAS is the skin disinfection and hygiene business unit for Advanced Sterilization Products, a division of Ethicon. The product line with sales nearly €40 million in 2014 is distributed in numerous countries in the region and marketed under the Microshield brand name.
The assets will be progressively transferred to Air Liquide, effective immediately. Along with gaining new products, the deal represents a major geographic extension of the US gases producer’s hygiene business.
Pascal Vinet, vice president Healthcare Global Operations and member of Air Liquide group’s executive committee said the Asia-Pacific region has “significant potential for growth.”