DLA Phillips Fox advises BOC on acquisition of Elgas for $221m

DLA Phillips Fox has advised BOC Limited, a member of the Linde Group, on its acquisition of the remaining 50 percent shareholding in Auscom Holdings Pty Ltd, the parent company of the Elgas group, from its joint venture partner AGL Energy Limited for A$221 million.

Elgas, established in 1984, was a 50/50 Joint Venture between BOC and AGL Energy. Now entirely owned by BOC, Elgas is the biggest marketer of LPG (Liquefied Propane Gas) in Australia and operates Australia's largest LPG storage facility at Port Botany in Sydney. 

DLA Phillips Fox carried out a legal due diligence review, obtained all regulatory consents and prepared and negotiated the share purchase agreement and related documents.

Sydney-based Corporate partners David Morris and Adrian Smith led the deal team and were assisted by partners Mark Beaufoy, Tim L'Orange and Andrew Ball who advised on the environmental, property and workplace aspects of the due diligence respectively. Partner Geoff Taperell provided advice on competition aspects of the transaction.

Adrian Smith said: "This was a significant transaction that will see BOC Limited, a key client of this firm, consolidate its position as the leading gas supplier in Australia".

BOC is the leading industrial gases company in Australia with more than 2,000 employees in Australia and an extensive distribution network across the country. BOC is a member of The Linde Group - a world leading gases and engineering company with more than 50,000 employees working in almost 100 different countries.

For further information please contact:

Clare Buttner
Media Relations Consultant, DLA Phillips Fox
Direct Tel: +61 2 9286 8400
Mobile: 0415 932 936
Email: clare.buttner@dlaphillipsfox.com