OREANDA-NEWS. October 08, 2015. The market for homecare is growing throughout the world. Air Liquide, which ranks 1st in Europe and 3rd in the world for homecare, continues to develop its offer of services through targeted acquisitions in Australia and South Korea.

Air Liquide announces the acquisition in Australia of 70% of the company Snore Australia, a major player in the field of sleep diagnosis. These diagnoses help to identify and assess the degree of disorders in conditions such as sleep apnea. Created ten years ago, this company makes over 15,000 sleep diagnoses per year in its thirteen sleep laboratories. With 72 employees, its annual revenue amounts to €5.6 million. In Australia, it is estimated that around 480,000 people suffer from sleep apnea, of which only 25% have been diagnosed to date.

Air Liquide also announces the acquisition of 70% of Medions Homecare, the leading South-Korean company in home ventilation. Created in 1989, Medions Homecare treats around 400 patients thanks to a team of 18 people, for an annual revenue of €3 million. Air Liquide will use the acquisition of Medions Homecare as a basis for developing its home oxygen therapy and sleep apnea activities in this country of 48 million inhabitants. The market for homecare in South Korea is growing by more than 15% every year.

Pascal Vinet, Vice-President, Healthcare World Business Line and Healthcare Operations for the Group announced: "We are delighted with this strengthened presence on the home healthcare market in Australia and with our first establishment in Korea. We are happy to welcome these new employees to the Group. These successive and targeted acquisitions in homecare are an illustration of our development strategy, which aims to extend our international network to new, high-potential markets. Healthcare is a solid and promising growth driver for Air Liquide.”