Brussels, 10/10/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Commission has authorised the French and British industrial gas groups Air Liquide and BOC to form a joint-venture in Japan to be held to the tune of 55% by air Liquide and 45% by BOC. Called Japan Air Gases, this company will pool the Japanese activities of their parent companies currently pooled within the subsidiaries Air Liquide Japan (Air Liquide) and Osaka Sanso Kogyo (BOC). Together, these subsidiaries had accumulated sales of 1.2 billion euro in 2001. The new company will be placed second or third on the Japanese natural gas market, will produce and sell industrial or medical gases in tonnage, bulk or cylinders, a well as electronic speciality gases. The Commission's investigation revealed that the operation would have no effect on the European market.