Airgas Inc. acquired 14 branches in Florida, Georgia and California from Union Industrial Gas Group.

Airgas Inc., Radnor, Pa., acquired 14 branches in Florida, Georgia and California from Union Industrial Gas Group (UIG). UIG, an independent distributor headquartered in Irving, Texas, will retain about 30 branches principally in the Southwest, as well as its propylene business.

The operations acquired have annual sales of more than $20 million in packaged gases and welding hardgoods and include 10 locations in Florida and Georgia, doing business as Action Welding Supply and Equipment Sales Co., and four locations in California doing business as Northwestern Equipment & Supply Co. The acquisition closed at the end of March.

Airgas will integrate the acquired locations into three of its 12 regional companies: Airgas South, Airgas West and Airgas Northern California & Nevada. All the sites will do business under the Airgas brand.