UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

AIRGAS, INC.

Delaware		1-9344		56-0732648
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

259 North Radnor-Chester Road, Suite 100
Radnor, PA 19087-5283

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (610) 687-5253

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425).

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12).

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)).

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)).

 

 

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition

On January 28, 2009, Airgas, Inc. (the “Company”) reported its earnings for its third quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2008, as described in the press release attached as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

The information contained in this Form 8-K report shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Non-GAAP Measures:

The press release attached as Exhibit 99.1 contains certain financial measures that are not defined under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The Company presented its Free Cash Flow measure to provide meaningful insight into the Company’s ability to generate cash from operations, which is available for servicing debt obligations and for the execution of its business strategy, including acquisitions, the prepayment of debt, or to support other investing and financing activities. The Company also provided Return on Capital as a non-GAAP measure, which helps investors assess how effectively the Company uses the capital invested in its operations. Company management also uses Return on Capital as one of the metrics for determining employee compensation.

The Company’s intent is to provide non-GAAP financial information to enhance investors’ understanding of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and should be considered by the reader in addition to, but not instead of, the financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, it should be noted that the Company’s non-GAAP information may be different from the non-GAAP information provided by other companies.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a) None

(b) None

(c) None

(d) Exhibits.

     99.1 — Press Release dated January 28, 2009

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant and Co-Registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

AIRGAS, INC.				AIRGAS EAST, INC.
(Registrant)				AIRGAS GREAT LAKES, INC.
				AIRGAS MID AMERICA, INC.
				AIRGAS NORTH CENTRAL, INC.
BY:		/s/ Thomas M. Smyth		AIRGAS SOUTH, INC.
		Thomas M. Smyth		AIRGAS MID SOUTH, INC.
		Vice President & Controller		AIRGAS INTERMOUNTAIN, INC.
				AIRGAS NORPAC, INC.
				AIRGAS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA & NEVADA, INC.
				AIRGAS SOUTHWEST, INC.
				AIRGAS WEST, INC.
				AIRGAS SAFETY, INC.
				AIRGAS CARBONIC, INC.
				AIRGAS SPECIALTY GASES, INC.
				NITROUS OXIDE CORP.
				RED-D-ARC, INC.
				AIRGAS DATA, LLC
						(Co-Registrants)
				BY:		/s/ Thomas M. Smyth
						Thomas M. Smyth Vice President

DATED: January 29, 2009