1 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, DC 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): April 29, 1997 AIRGAS, INC. _____________________________________________________ (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 1-9344 56-0732648 ________________ _________________ ______________________ (State of other (Commission File (I.R.S. Employer jurisdiction of Number) Identification No.) incorporation) 259 Radnor-Chester Road, Suite 100 Radnor, PA 19087 _______________________________________ __________________ (Address of principal execute officers) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (610) 687-5253 ____________ 2 Item 5. Other Events. __________ On April 16, 1997, the Board of Directors of Airgas, Inc. (the "Company") adopted a stockholder rights plan which contemplates the issuance of preferred stock purchase rights to the Company's common stockholders of record as of April 29, 1997, as set forth in the Rights Agreement between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Rights Agent, attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1 and incorporated by reference herein. The Board of Directors of the Company further adopted the First Amendment to Rights Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 4.2 and incorporated by reference herein. Item 7(c). Exhibits. 4.1 Rights Agreement, dated as of April 1, 1997, between Airgas, Inc. and The Bank of New York, as Rights Agent, which includes as Exhibit B thereto the Form of Right certificate, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to Airgas, Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated April 28, 1997. 4.2 First Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of April 1, 1997, between Airgas, Inc. and The Bank of New York, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1.2 to Airgas, Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated April 28, 1997. 20.1 Press Release of the Company, dated April 17, 1997. 20.2 Form of Letter to the Company's stockholders describing the Rights, dated April 29, 1997. 3 SIGNATURE ___________ Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. AIRGAS, INC. BY: /s/ Thomas C. Deas, Jr. ______________________ Vice President - Finance & Chief Financial Officer DATED: April 30, 1997