the board of directors during its meeting of september 29 2021 noted that from january 1st 2021 to august 31 2021 279 134 new shares with a par value of 550 euros each had been issued pursuant to the exercise of stock options divided into 473774858 shares with a par value of 550 euros each a world leader in gases technologies and services for industry and health air liquide is present in 78 countries with approximately 64500 employees and serves more than 38 million customers and patients oxygen nitrogen and hydrogen are essential small molecules for life matter and energy they embody air liquides scientific territory and have been at the core of the companys activities since its creation in 1902 air liquides ambition is to be a leader in its industry deliver long term performance and contribute to sustainability  with a strong commitment to climate change and energy transition at the heart of its strategy the companys customercentric transformation strategy aims at profitable regular and responsible growth over the long term it relies on operational excellence selective investments open innovation and a network organization implemented by the group worldwide through the commitment and inventiveness of its people air liquide leverages energy and environment transition changes in healthcare and digitization and delivers greater value to all its stakeholders air liquides revenue amounted to more than 20 billion euros in 2020 air liquide is listed on the euronext paris stock exchange compartment a and belongs to the cac 40 euro stoxx 50 and ftse4good indexes