Exhibit 99.1

Airgas Reports Fiscal 2014 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Earnings

• Fourth quarter diluted EPS of $1.17, up 4% over prior year, and adjusted diluted EPS* of $1.15, up 1% over prior year
• Full year diluted EPS of $4.68, up 8% over prior year, and adjusted diluted EPS* of $4.72, up 9% over prior year
• Fourth quarter organic sales down 1% compared to prior year; Distribution segment organic sales up 1% over prior year
• Record full year free cash flow* of $441 million on adjusted cash from operations* of $776 million
• Fiscal year 2015 diluted EPS guidance of $5.00 to $5.20, representing 6% to 10% growth over fiscal 2014 adjusted diluted EPS*

RADNOR, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2014--Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG), one of the nation’s leading suppliers of industrial, medical, and specialty gases, and related products, today reported sales and earnings results for its fourth quarter and full year ended March 31, 2014, which reflected the favorable impacts of the realization of SAP-related benefits as planned and share repurchases completed in the second half of fiscal 2013, but also reflected sluggish business conditions and the negative impact on the Company’s refrigerants business from the EPA’s March 2013 ruling. Results for the fourth quarter also reflected the negative impact of severe weather across much of the U.S. on both sales and expenses.

“We delivered record free cash flow* of $441 million and 9% growth in adjusted EPS* for fiscal 2014 in a sluggish economic environment,” said Airgas President and Chief Executive Officer Michael L. Molinini. “We remained focused on outstanding customer service, expense management, and execution of strategic initiatives, which included the achievement of our long-standing target of reaching a run-rate of more than $75 million in SAP-enabled operating income benefits by the end of calendar year 2013.”

Fourth Quarter Results

“We estimate that in our fourth quarter the net impact of severe weather conditions across much of the U.S. cost us at least $0.02 per diluted share more than expected, and the negative year-over-year impact on earnings related to our refrigerants business was $0.03 greater than anticipated,” Molinini added. “Absent those particular issues, our earnings for the quarter were within our guidance range.” The Company’s fourth quarter guidance had assumed year-over-year negative impacts of approximately $0.03 per diluted share due to severe weather conditions in January and $0.05 per diluted share related to refrigerants.

Fourth quarter earnings per diluted share were $1.17, up 4% over prior year earnings per diluted share of $1.13. Excluding a $0.02 state income tax benefit, adjusted earnings per diluted share* were $1.15, up 1% over prior year. Results included SAP-related benefits, net of implementation costs and depreciation expense, of $0.16 per diluted share in the current year quarter compared to $0.04 of net benefits in the prior year quarter.

“Though there were bright spots within certain sectors, on balance, underlying business conditions remained choppy throughout the quarter, weather-related challenges notwithstanding,” said Molinini. “We remain focused on the things we can control, including leveraging the SAP system, managing expenses, expanding our telesales business, and enhancing our e-Business platform, and are ready to capitalize when sustained growth in the industrial economy resumes.”

Fourth quarter sales were $1.27 billion, flat compared to prior year. Organic sales in the quarter were down 1% compared to prior year, with gas and rent down 1% and hardgoods down 2%. Distribution segment organic sales in the quarter were up 1% compared to prior year, with gas and rent up 2% and hardgoods down 2%. Acquisitions contributed sales growth of 1% in the quarter on a consolidated basis and in the Distribution segment.

Selling, distribution, and administrative expenses increased 2% over the prior year. The favorable impact of the reduction in SAP implementation costs compared to the prior year was more than offset by rising healthcare costs and higher operating expenses due to severe weather, as well as by expenses associated with the Company’s expansion of its telesales business through Airgas Total Access, strategic pricing initiative, and enhancement of its e-Business platform.

Fourth quarter operating margin was 11.8%, down 30 basis points compared to prior year operating margin of 12.1% and down 40 basis points compared to prior year adjusted operating margin* of 12.2%, which included restructuring and other special charges. Distribution segment operating margin was 12.5% for the quarter, down 30 basis points compared to prior year.

The combination of a reduction in SAP implementation costs and the achievement of SAP-related benefits contributed favorably to operating margin this quarter as compared to the prior year. Low organic sales growth challenged the Company’s operating margin in the quarter, as did R-22 pricing in its refrigerants business following the EPA’s unexpected ruling in late March 2013 to allow for an increase in the production of R-22 during calendar 2013.

Full Year Results

For the full year, earnings per diluted share were $4.68, an increase of 8% over prior year earnings per diluted share of $4.35. Results included a loss of $0.08 per diluted share on the early extinguishment of the Company’s 7.125% senior subordinated notes which were originally due to mature in October 2018 but were redeemed in full on October 2, 2013, as well as $0.04 of state income tax benefits. Excluding the loss on the extinguishment of debt and state income tax benefits, adjusted earnings per diluted share* were $4.72, an increase of 9% over prior year adjusted earnings per diluted share* of $4.35. Earnings per diluted share and adjusted earnings per diluted share included SAP-related benefits, net of implementation costs and depreciation expense, of $0.47 per diluted share in the current year compared to $0.18 per diluted share of net expense in the prior year. The favorable year-over-year impact of share repurchases completed in the second half of fiscal 2013 on the Company’s earnings growth in fiscal 2014 was more than offset by the negative year-over-year impact related to its refrigerants business, which posted record results in fiscal 2013.

Full year sales were $5.07 billion, an increase of 2% over the prior year. Organic sales were flat compared to the prior year, with gas and rent up 1% and hardgoods down 2%, while acquisitions contributed sales growth of 2% for the year.

Full year free cash flow* was a record $441 million, up 48% over the prior year, and adjusted cash from operations* was a record $776 million, up 29% over the prior year. The increase in cash flows was primarily driven by lower required investment in working capital in the current year compared to the prior year.

Return on capital* was 12.2% for the twelve months ended March 31, 2014, a decrease of 10 basis points from the prior year.

During fiscal year 2014, the Company acquired 11 businesses with aggregate annual sales of approximately $82 million, including The Encompass Gas Group, Inc., one of the largest privately-owned suppliers of industrial, medical, and specialty gases and related hardgoods in the U.S.

Fiscal 2015 Guidance

“We had expected the U.S. industrial economy to be much stronger by now. But areas of strength within certain industries are still being weighed down by weakness in other areas. There are many significant non-residential construction projects just now starting to move forward, which is a good sign; however, given the persistent uncertainty in the U.S. industrial economy over the past two years and with overall sluggishness still apparent, growth in fiscal 2015 is very difficult to predict,” said Airgas Executive Chairman Peter McCausland. “The low end of our fiscal 2015 guidance assumes a gradual uptick in growth rates as the year progresses, with average organic sales growth of 4% for the full year. The high end assumes a more robust acceleration in growth rates over the course of the year, with average organic sales growth of 6% for the full year.”

“We continue to believe the long-term growth prospects for the U.S. manufacturing and energy industries are strong, as structural drivers like the abundant supply of low-cost energy and higher shipping costs from overseas should favor the U.S. for years to come,” McCausland added. “Fiscal 2015 will be a year in which we continue to invest in the business to enhance our long-term growth prospects through strategic initiatives, including the development of our new e-Business platform, and enhancements to our regional management structures, like the reorganizations of our Southwest and North Central distribution regions this past year and other structural changes within all of our regions. We expect these and other initiatives to help drive decision-making as close to our customers as possible, bring additional focus to our sales efforts and increase operating efficiencies enabled by SAP, ultimately strengthening our competitive position and ability to capitalize when sustained improvement in the industrial economy returns.”

For the first quarter of fiscal year 2015, the Company expects earnings per diluted share in the range of $1.15 to $1.20, reflecting an increase of 1% to 5% over prior year earnings per diluted share of $1.14. First quarter guidance assumes a year-over-year organic sales growth rate in the low single digits.

For the full fiscal year 2015, the Company expects earnings per diluted share in the range of $5.00 to $5.20, reflecting an increase of 7% to 11% over prior year earnings per diluted share and an increase of 6% to 10% over prior year adjusted earnings per diluted share*. Full year guidance includes a $0.11 to $0.16 per diluted share negative year-over-year impact from variable compensation reset following a below-budget year. The Company currently expects the contribution from its refrigerants business to year-over-year earnings per diluted share growth in fiscal 2015 to be slightly favorable.

The Company will conduct an earnings teleconference at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, May 1. The teleconference will be available by calling (888) 401-4642 (U.S./Canada) or (719) 457-1509 (International). The presentation materials (this press release, slides to be presented during the Company’s teleconference and information about how to access a live and on demand webcast of the teleconference) are available in the “Investor Relations” section of the Company’s website at www.airgas.com. A webcast of the teleconference will be available live and on demand through May 29 at http://investor.shareholder.com/arg/events.cfm. A replay of the teleconference will be available through May 8. To listen, call (888) 203-1112 (U.S./Canada) or (719) 457-0820 (International) and enter passcode 3683756.

* See attached reconciliations and computations of non-GAAP adjusted earnings per diluted share, adjusted effective tax rate, adjusted operating margin, adjusted cash from operations, free cash flow, and return on capital.

About Airgas, Inc.

Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG), through its subsidiaries, is one of the nation’s leading suppliers of industrial, medical and specialty gases, and hardgoods, such as welding equipment and related products. Airgas is a leading U.S. producer of atmospheric gases with 16 air separation plants, a leading producer of carbon dioxide, dry ice, and nitrous oxide, one of the largest U.S. suppliers of safety products, and a leading U.S. supplier of refrigerants, ammonia products, and process chemicals. More than 16,000 employees work in approximately 1,100 locations, including branches, retail stores, gas fill plants, specialty gas labs, production facilities and distribution centers. Airgas also markets its products and services through e-Business, catalog and telesales channels. Its national scale and strong local presence offer a competitive edge to its diversified customer base. For more information, please visit www.airgas.com.

This press release contains statements that are forward looking, as that term is defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 or by the SEC in its rules, regulations and releases. These statements include, but are not limited to: the Company’s expectations regarding its fiscal 2015 first quarter and full fiscal year 2015 organic sales growth and earnings per diluted share, and the Company’s intent to continue to invest in its strategic initiatives to promote long-term growth. Forward-looking statements also include any statement that is not based on historical fact, including statements containing the words "believes," "may," "plans," "will," "could," "should," "estimates," "continues," "anticipates," "intends," "expects," and similar expressions. We intend that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. All forward-looking statements are based on current expectations regarding important risk factors and should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that the results expressed therein will be achieved. Airgas assumes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement include: adverse changes in customer buying patterns or weakening in the operating and financial performance of our customers, any of which could negatively impact our sales and our ability to collect our accounts receivable; postponement of projects due to economic conditions; customer acceptance of price increases; increases in energy costs and other operating expenses at a faster rate than our ability to increase prices; changes in customer demand resulting in our inability to meet minimum product purchase requirements under long-term supply agreements and the inability to negotiate alternative supply arrangements; supply cost pressures; shortages and/or disruptions in the supply chain of certain gases, including, but not limited to, the continued or increased disruption in our helium supply chain; EPA rulings and the pace and manner of U.S. compliance with the Montreal Protocol as they relate to the production and import of Refrigerant-22 (also known as HCFC-22 or R-22); higher than expected expenses associated with the expansion of our telesales business, our strategic pricing initiatives and other strategic growth initiatives; increased industry competition; our ability to successfully identify, consummate, and integrate acquisitions; our ability to achieve anticipated acquisition synergies; operating costs associated with acquired businesses; our continued ability to access credit markets on satisfactory terms; significant fluctuations in interest rates; the impact of changes in credit market conditions on our customers; our ability to effectively leverage our new SAP system to improve the operating and financial performance of our business; higher than expected costs related to our Business Support Center transition; changes in tax and fiscal policies and laws; increased expenditures relating to compliance with environmental and other regulatory initiatives; the impact of new environmental, healthcare, tax, accounting, and other regulations; the extent and duration of sluggish conditions in the U.S. economy, including in particular, the U.S. industrial economy; the economic recovery in the U.S.; catastrophic events and/or severe weather conditions; political and economic uncertainties associated with current world events; and other factors described in the Company's reports, including its March 31, 2013 Form 10-K, subsequent Forms 10-Q, and other forms filed by the Company with the SEC.

Consolidated statements of earnings, condensed consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of cash flows, and reconciliations and computations of non-GAAP financial measures follow below.

Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)

Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share and Earnings Guidance

Reconciliations of adjusted earnings per diluted share and earnings guidance:

The Company believes its adjusted earnings per diluted share financial measure provides investors meaningful insight into its earnings performance without the impact of net Business Support Center restructuring and other special charges, the gain on the sale of businesses, benefits from the changes in state income tax rates and law, and the loss on the extinguishment of debt. Non-GAAP financial measures should be read in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, as non-GAAP financial measures are merely a supplement to, and not a replacement for, GAAP financial measures. It should also be noted that the Company’s adjusted earnings per diluted share financial measure may be different from the adjusted earnings per diluted share financial measures provided by other companies.

Adjusted Effective Tax Rate

Reconciliation of adjusted effective tax rate:

The Company believes its adjusted effective tax rate financial measure helps investors assess its effective tax rate without the impact of benefits related to changes in state income tax rates and law and the income tax impact related to the loss on the extinguishment of debt. Non-GAAP financial measures should be read in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, as non-GAAP financial measures are merely a supplement to, and not a replacement for, GAAP financial measures. It should also be noted that the Company’s adjusted effective tax rate financial measure may be different from the adjusted effective tax rate financial measures provided by other companies.

Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Operating Margin

Reconciliations of adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin:

The Company believes its adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin financial measures help investors assess its operating performance without the impact of net Business Support Center restructuring and other special charges. Non-GAAP financial measures should be read in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, as non-GAAP financial measures are merely a supplement to, and not a replacement for, GAAP financial measures. It should also be noted that the Company’s adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin financial measures may be different from the adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin financial measures provided by other companies.

Return on Capital

Reconciliations and computations of return on capital:

The Company believes its return on capital financial measure helps investors assess how effectively it uses the capital invested in its operations. Non-GAAP financial measures should be read in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, as non-GAAP financial measures are merely a supplement to, and not a replacement for, GAAP financial measures. It should be noted as well that the Company’s return on capital financial measure may be different from the return on capital financial measures provided by other companies.

Adjusted Cash from Operations, Adjusted Capital Expenditures, and Free Cash Flow

Reconciliations and computations of adjusted cash from operations, adjusted capital expenditures, and free cash flow:

The Company believes its adjusted cash from operations, adjusted capital expenditures, and free cash flow financial measures provide investors meaningful insight into its ability to generate cash from operations, which is available for servicing debt obligations and for the execution of its business strategies, including acquisitions, the prepayment of debt, the payment of dividends, or to support other investing and financing activities. The Company’s free cash flow financial measure has limitations and does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures. Certain non-discretionary expenditures such as payments on maturing debt obligations are excluded from the Company’s computation of its free cash flow financial measure. Non-GAAP financial measures should be read in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, as non-GAAP financial measures are merely a supplement to, and not a replacement for, GAAP financial measures. It should also be noted that the Company’s adjusted cash from operations, adjusted capital expenditures, and free cash flow financial measures may be different from the adjusted cash from operations, adjusted capital expenditures, and free cash flow financial measures provided by other companies.

CONTACT:
Airgas, Inc.
Investor & Media Contact:
Barry Strzelec
610-902-6256
barry.strzelec@airgas.com
or
Investor Contact:
Joseph Marczely
610-263-8277
joseph.marczely@airgas.com
or
Media Contact:
Sarah Stockton-Brown
610-263-8260
sarah.stockton-brown@airgas.com