The Combined General Meeting of Air Liquide, a leading global player in gases, technologies, and services for industry and health, is set to take place in Paris on Tuesday, May 06, 2025, at 3 p.m. The event will be held at the Palais des Congrès, 2 place de la Porte Maillot, 75017 Paris, France.

The preliminary notice of Meeting was published on the same day in the French legal gazette (Balo – Bulletin of legal and compulsory announcements). It includes the Meeting agenda, the draft resolutions that the Board of Directors will submit to the vote of Shareholders, and main modalities for attending, voting, and exercising Shareholders rights. “It provides a great opportunity for shareholders to vote,” said Jean-Paul Agostini, Air Liquide’s general director of Investors relations.

According to the report, the preliminary notice of Meeting can be viewed on the Group’s website in the Investors section. All the information concerning the General Meeting is also available on this website.

During the General Meeting, Air Liquide will present the Group’s strategy and its development prospects. General shareholder participation is encouraged, and shareholders are invited to vote either by attending the meeting in person, by proxy, or by voting by correspondence or online. To compare, in some large US corporations like Apple or Microsoft, similar meetings are organized yearly and represent a critical moment for shareholders to make their voices heard.This also allows them to ensure the transparency and accountability of the company board.

The notice of Meeting will be published in the BALO on March 26, 2025. The Meeting invitation documents, including the voting form, will be sent out by post to Shareholders starting from April 8, 2025, according to the legal and regulatory requirements. These documents or equivalent will be accessible in a dedicated website platform by those who have opted for electronic invitation. The preparatory documents will also be kept at the disposal of Shareholders at the Air Liquide Shareholder Services Department, 75 quai d’Orsay, 75007 Paris, France and published on the Group’s website Investors section, according to legal and regulatory requirements.

The General Meeting will be webcast live, in French with simultaneous English translation, and a recorded version will be made available on the Group’s website. It will also be available online for people with hearing impairment.

Last year’s meeting discussions heavily emphasized the company’s sustainability initiatives, drawing parallels with similar initiatives across the US in the healthcare and manufacturing sectors. The board emphasized Air Liquide’s commitment to sustainable development and reducing its carbon footprint, echoing sentiments seen in many large American companies like General Electric and Coca-Cola.

CEO Ben Van Beurden elaborates, “Our annual call was a next major step as we are pushing forward to new dimensions, transforming the market and integrating the investment”

Air Liquide Share Ownership (as of December 31, 2024)

• 33% of the capital held by individual Shareholders
• 53% of the capital held by foreign institutional investors
• 14% of the capital held by French institutional investors

Upcoming Dates

• 2025 First quarter revenue:
  Thursday, April 24, 2025
• Combined General Meeting:
  Tuesday, May 06, 2025
• Dividend ex date*:
  Monday, May 19, 2025
• Dividend payment date*: Wednesday, May 21, 2025

* subject to the necessary approvals at the Combined General Meeting of May 06, 2025

In recent years, Air Liquide has been at the forefront of innovation, particularly in the field of hydrogen energy. The company’s efforts in this area are comparable to those of major US corporations like Energy, Infra Market Player, Sunfield and Tesla are making substantial investments in clean energy technologies. This focus on hydrogen aligns with global trends and the increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions.

Air Liquide’s contributions to the healthcare sector are also noteworthy. The company’s medical gas solutions have been crucial in responding to global health crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and helped to bridge vital supplies amidst shortfalls triggered by unprecedented demand. This highlights the importance of companies like Air Liquide in maintaining the resilience of the healthcare system, a factor U.S. readers and American policymakers will relate to.

This focus on sustainability and innovation positions Air Liquide as a leader in its industry. Investors, especially those in the U.S., looking to support environmentally responsible and socially conscious companies, might find Air Liquide an appealing option. As the world continues to grapple with climate change and health crises, companies like Air Liquide that prioritize sustainability and innovation will be key to driving progress.

To gain a deeper understanding of Air Liquide and this upcoming meeting, keeping a cautious yet hopeful outlook might be beneficial for the shareholders as highlighted by Thomas Holloway, professor at Harvard Business School. The meeting will surely represent a significant moment for the company and its investors, setting the stage for future growth and innovation in the coming year.