Investment bank Harris Williams advised Tech Air, a U.S. distributor of industrial and medical gases, welding supplies and related equipment, on its pending sale to Airgas, an Air Liquide company.

The transaction is being led by Giles Tucker, Eric Logue, Graham Rives and Chuck Walter of Harris Williams’ Industrials Group and Bob Baltimore of the firm’s Specialty Distribution Group.

Founded in 1935 and headquartered in Danbury, CT, Tech Air serves more than 45,000 customers and operates approximately 50 locations in California, Texas, the Northeast and Southeast. It is a portfolio company of CI Capital Partners, a private equity investment firm that has invested in middle market companies since 1993.

Airgas is one of the largest U.S. suppliers of safety products, as well as a supplier of industrial, medical and specialty gases, ammonia products and process chemicals. It serves more than 1 million customers through its more than 18,000 associates over 1,400 locations and e-business platform.