AirLife Gases Announces Strategic Investment in Royal Helium Inc.

Core Insights - AirLife Gases Private Limited is participating in a private placement of subscription receipts of Keranic Industrial Gas Inc. to support Keranic's growth plans and its proposed combination with Royal Helium Inc. [1][3] - The transaction will result in Royal Helium acquiring all issued and outstanding shares of Keranic, with the new entity expected to pursue a listing on a recognized Canadian stock exchange [3][4] - AirLife is expected to become a significant shareholder of the resulting issuer and plans to enter into an investor rights arrangement [5][6] Company Strategy - The transaction marks a significant milestone for AirLife as it transitions from a global distributor to an integrated helium producer, enhancing its role across the value chain [6][7] - AirLife aims to leverage its logistics and customer infrastructure to deliver end-to-end supply solutions, thereby strengthening supply security and reducing reliance on third-party producers [7][8] - The combination of AirLife's distribution expertise with Royal Helium's assets is expected to enhance supply reliability and deliver long-term value to customers [6][8] Industry Context - The transaction involves Royal Helium's four core areas with multiple helium discoveries across approximately 600,000 acres in Saskatchewan and Alberta, which is strategically significant for helium production [4] - The Steveville plant facility, capable of processing 15,000 Mcf/day of raw gas, is expected to restart production within 12 weeks following the transaction's completion [4] - This development is poised to support job creation, industrial expansion, and long-term energy diversification in Alberta [4]