Adenia Partners (“Adenia”) has finalized its acquisition of Air Liquide’s operations across 12 African nations, leading to the establishment of Erium, the inaugural pan-African leader in industrial and medical gases. Effective immediately, Erium will take over the Air Liquide brand in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Madagascar, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, and Togo. The acquisition, first announced in March, was officially completed on July 22. This move continues Adenia’s track record of significant controlling-stake acquisitions, reflecting its long-standing commitment to fostering growth opportunities in Africa.
Christophe Scalbert, Partner at Adenia, remarked, “The launch of Erium is noteworthy for several reasons. It represents the successful acquisition by an African entity of an international operation, a project that spans a large geographical area and involves critical activities for the continent’s development. More importantly, it marks the start of a promising future, one that we are dedicated to nurturing for the benefit of our employees, customers, and local economies.”
Signaling a New Direction
The introduction of Erium marks the beginning of a transformative phase for the company’s assets. Supported by Adenia, Erium’s leadership is committed to delivering value across its full range of stakeholders, including employees, customers, partners, and local communities.
The [R] in Erium symbolizes “air,” emphasizing the vital natural resource central to many gas solutions. The [IUM] suffix reflects the scientific basis of gases and materials, as well as a commitment to premium quality and effective solutions. The name Erium conveys both a sense of serious expertise and modern agility.
Enhanced Customer Focus
As a fully African entity, Erium is set to emerge as a nimble leader, closely aligned with the needs of its customers and regions.
To meet its objectives, Erium will:
- Invest up to 30 million euros in industrial expansion over the next five years.
- Boost local production capabilities by constructing air separation and CO2 liquefaction plants.
- Focus on developing the skills of its 400 employees, including both sales and technical teams.
- Implement a streamlined decision-making process.
- Develop local governance structures that are responsive and transformative.
Erium is also pleased to announce the appointment of Georges Decrop as Executive Chairman of the Board. Decrop will work alongside the incoming CEO to strategically support country Managing Directors, assess processes, and propose structural changes aimed at accelerating value creation for customers.
Georges Decrop stated, “The introduction of our new name, Erium, signifies the first crucial step in our transformation. While our business, teams, ethical standards, quality, and safety remain unchanged, we are entering a new era. I am honored to lead our operations across 12 countries toward enhanced service levels, greater agility, and autonomy, addressing the needs of our customers and the African continent.
