The French AIR LIQUIDE (turnover of 8.3 billion EUR in 2003), the world leader in industrial gases, will take control of two-thirds of the German MESSER GRIESHEIM (2003 turnover of 1.04 billion EUR), the world number six. It has effectively acquired MESSER's activities in Germany, the UK and the US, for 2.68 billion EUR. In order to get the go-ahead from the competition authorities, AIR LIQUIDE will have to shed up to 20% of the activities it has acquired.