401(k) 12.31.14 11-K
Table of Contents


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 11-K


(Mark One)

[ x ]
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014

OR

[ ]
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ________ to _______

Commission file numbers: 333-75256 and 333-175676


A.
Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:

Airgas, Inc. 401(k) Plan

B.
Name of the issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:

Airgas, Inc.
259 North Radnor-Chester Road
Suite 100
Radnor, PA 19087-5283




Table of Contents


AIRGAS, INC. 401(k) PLAN

December 31, 2014

Table of Contents

 
Page
Supplemental Schedule:
 
 




2

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To Participants and the Plan Administrator of Airgas, Inc. 401(k) Plan:
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Airgas, Inc. 401(k) Plan (the Plan) as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
The supplemental information in the accompanying schedule of Schedule H, line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) as of December 31, 2014 has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of the Plan’s 2014 financial statements. The supplemental information is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the financial statements but include supplemental information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The supplemental information is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the supplemental information reconciles to the financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplemental information. In forming our opinion on the supplemental information, we evaluated whether the supplemental information, including its form and content, is presented in conformity with the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In our opinion, the supplemental information in the accompanying schedule of Schedule H, line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) as of December 31, 2014 is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the 2014 financial statements as a whole.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
June 19, 2015


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AIRGAS, INC. 401(k) PLAN
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits

 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Assets:
 
 
 
Investments, at fair value (Notes 3 and 4)
$
812,633,399

 
$
750,583,858

Receivables:
 
 
 
Employee contributions
238,187

 
879,704

Employer contributions
57,869

 
235,083

Notes receivable from participants
26,104,891

 
23,454,523

Total receivables
26,400,947

 
24,569,310

Net assets, reflecting investments at fair value
839,034,346

 
775,153,168

Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts (Notes 2 and 3)
(2,638,073
)
 
(2,531,013
)
Net assets available for benefits
$
836,396,273

 
$
772,622,155


See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

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AIRGAS, INC. 401(k) PLAN
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

 
Years Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Additions:
 
 
 
Additions to net assets attributable to:
 
 
 
Investment income:
 
 
 
Net appreciation in fair value of investments (Note 3)
$
15,538,239

 
$
95,904,997

Interest and dividends
34,066,973

 
21,528,649

Total investment income, net
49,605,212

 
117,433,646

Contributions:
 
 
 
Employee
49,596,632

 
45,684,527

Employer
12,647,928

 
11,934,524

Rollovers (Note 1)
6,222,058

 
3,167,670

Total contributions
68,466,618

 
60,786,721

Transfers from other plans and other additions (Note 8)
10,267,412

 
43,379

  Total additions
128,339,242

 
178,263,746

Deductions:
 
 
 
Benefits paid to participants
(64,124,870
)
 
(59,914,335
)
Administrative fees and other deductions
(440,254
)
 
(385,220
)
  Total deductions
(64,565,124
)
 
(60,299,555
)
  Net additions
63,774,118

 
117,964,191

Net assets available for benefits:
 
 
 
    Beginning of year
772,622,155

 
654,657,964

    End of year
$
836,396,273

 
$
772,622,155


See accompanying notes to the financial statements.



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AIRGAS, INC. 401(k) PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements



(1)
Description of the Plan
The following description of the Airgas, Inc. 401(k) Plan (the “Plan”) provides general information only. Participants should refer to the Plan document for more complete information.
(a)
General
The Plan is a defined contribution plan covering substantially all employees of Airgas, Inc. and subsidiaries (“Airgas” or the “Company”). Included in the assets of the Plan are rollovers and transfers from other plans of acquired companies, where applicable. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company serves as the trustee for the Plan.
(b)
Contributions
Employee
The Plan permits a participant to defer up to 50% of eligible compensation, subject to the maximum dollar limitation in the calendar year as prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). The Plan allows both 401(k) contributions, which are made from pre-tax earnings and are fully taxable as ordinary income at the time of distribution, as well as Roth 401(k) contributions. Under the Roth 401(k) contribution election, participant contributions are made from after-tax earnings that will be tax-free at the time of distribution. Participants are allowed to make both 401(k) and Roth 401(k) contributions into the Plan. Employee contributions receivable at December 31, 2014 and 2013 represent payroll contributions withheld through the end of each calendar year that were received by the Plan in the subsequent year.
Employer
Contributions to the Plan by the Company are made on a matched basis at a rate of 50% of participant deferred compensation. The employer match is applied on employee contributions of up to 4% of eligible compensation (i.e., maximum employer match is 2% of eligible compensation). Although employees may participate in the Plan immediately upon joining the Company, Plan participants are not eligible for Company matching contributions until they have completed one year of service with the Company. Employer contributions receivable at December 31, 2014 and 2013 represent Company matching contributions through the end of each calendar year that were received by the Plan in the subsequent year.
Rollovers
Contributions to the Plan for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 include $6,222,058 and $3,167,670, respectively, of rollover contributions from newly hired employees and employees associated with businesses acquired by the Company. Rollovers reflect employee elections to rollover funds from their former plans into the Plan.
Refunds of Excess Contributions
In accordance with rules prescribed by the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”), the trustee performed certain tests of employee contributions to ensure that highly compensated employees do not contribute on average a higher percentage of their income than that of non-highly compensated employees. Additionally, the trustee performed a test of employee contributions to determine that individual participant contribution levels did not exceed the 2014 IRS contribution limit of $17,500 for participants under age 50 or $23,000 (including catch-up contributions) for participants age 50 and over. An immaterial amount of refunds were required for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.
(c)
Participant Accounts
Contributions are invested as directed by each participant in 14 separate investment funds. Each participant may designate how the contributions to his or her account are to be allocated among the 14 funds. Participants are required to allocate contributions to the funds in increments of 1% of total contributions. In the event a participant fails to submit an allocation, contributions will be invested in the Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund. In addition to the above initial election, participants may elect, by contacting the trustee, to transfer monies among the investment funds in 1% increments of the total funds credited to their account. Interest, dividends and other income (losses) earned by each investment fund, net of administrative fees, are reinvested in the same fund. Such amounts are allocated to participants based upon the proportion of a participant’s balance to the total fund balance.


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AIRGAS, INC. 401(k) PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

(d)
Participant Loans
The Plan administrator may, upon the application of a participant, direct the trustee to make a loan to such a participant. The maximum the participant may borrow is limited to the lesser of 50% of the participant’s Plan account balance or $50,000. The minimum loan amount is $1,000 and loans are secured by 50% of the participant’s Plan account balance. Participant loans bear interest at a rate equal to the prime rate (as of the date of the loan) plus 2% and provide for periodic repayment over a reasonable period of time not to exceed five years for general purpose loans and 30 years for principal residence loans. The prime rate was 3.25% at December 31, 2014 and 2013. Interest rates on outstanding participant loans at both December 31, 2014 and 2013 ranged from 3.25% to 11.00%, with weighted average interest rates of 5.36% and 5.37% at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Interest rates on outstanding participant loans that are lower than the prime rate (as of the date of the loan) plus 2% can exist if loans were grandfathered into the Plan through plan-to-plan transfers of certain companies acquired by Airgas and those plans had different provisions than the Plan.
When a participant defaults on a loan obtained from the Plan, the Plan administrator will report the amount of default to the IRS as a distribution from the Plan. The Plan participant may then be subject to taxes and penalties related to the distribution.
(e)
Vesting
Participants are immediately vested in all contributions. In addition, all earnings (losses) on such investments are fully vested.
(f)
Payment of Benefits
Upon retirement, death or termination of service, participants or beneficiaries are entitled to a distribution equal to the total value of their accounts. Such distributions are generally payable in cash.
Participants experiencing serious financial hardships may be entitled to a distribution upon approval by the Plan administrator.
(g)
Administrative Expenses
Recordkeeping, loan administrative fees and administrative fees related to processing Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (“QDROs”) are paid by Plan participants. Loan origination fees are paid by Plan participants and included in notes receivable from participants on the Plan’s statements of net assets available for benefits. Stock administration, compliance testing, audit, legal, hardship withdrawal processing and company acquisition processing fees are paid by Airgas.
(2)
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(a)
Basis of Accounting
The accompanying financial statements of the Plan have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting and present net assets available for benefits and changes in those net assets.
(b)    New Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued updated guidance on the disclosure requirements for certain investments measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient as permitted under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The new guidance removes the requirement to categorize such investments within the fair value hierarchy. This guidance will be effective for the Plan beginning on January 1, 2016 and is not expected to significantly change the Plan’s current fair value disclosures.
(c)
Investments
Units of the Airgas Common Stock Fund are valued based on the combined quoted market prices of the underlying shares of Airgas common stock and a money market component. Investments in shares of registered investment companies (or mutual funds) are valued at the net asset values of shares held by the Plan at year-end. Units of the Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust III (the “Trust”) are valued at the net asset value at year-end (discussed below).
The Plan invests in fully benefit-responsive investment contracts through the Trust. In accordance with the accounting guidance for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts held by employee benefit plans, the statements of net assets available for benefits present the fair value of the Trust and the adjustment from fair value to contract value. The fair value of the Plan’s interest in the Trust is based on information reported by the Trust at year-end. Depending on the

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AIRGAS, INC. 401(k) PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

mix of investments, fair value is determined based on the expected future cash flows for each contract discounted to present value, and the aggregate market values of the underlying investments in mutual funds, bond trusts and other investments. The contract value of the Trust represents contributions plus earnings, less participant withdrawals and administrative expenses.
Purchases and sales of investments are recorded on a trade-date basis. The average cost method is followed in determining the cost of investments sold. Interest income is accrued when earned. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Capital gain distributions are included in dividend income.
Investment options as of December 31, 2014 were as follows:
The Airgas Common Stock Fund invests in Airgas common stock to provide for the possibility of long-term growth through increases in the value of the stock, although a portion of the fund may be invested in cash or cash equivalents to maintain liquidity and avoid excessive turnover of Airgas common stock held in the fund. The fund value per unit was $56.59 and $54.99 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The value per share of Airgas common stock was $115.18 and $111.85 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. At December 31, 2014, 3,543 Plan participants were invested in the fund.
The Vanguard Explorer Fund Admiral Shares seeks to provide long-term growth of capital by investing in a diversified group of small-company stocks with prospects for above-average growth. The value per share was $86.45 and $96.15 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. At December 31, 2014, 2,462 Plan participants were invested in the fund.
The Vanguard International Growth Fund Admiral Shares seeks to provide long-term growth of capital by investing in stocks of high-quality, seasoned companies based outside the United States. The value per share was $68.47 and $74.22 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. At December 31, 2014, 2,738 Plan participants were invested in the fund.
The Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund Admiral Shares seeks to provide long-term growth of capital by investing in large, high-quality, seasoned U.S. companies with records of exceptional growth and above-average prospects for future growth. The value per share was $77.39 and $74.25 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. At December 31, 2014, 2,176 Plan participants were invested in the fund.
The Vanguard Institutional Index Fund seeks to provide long-term growth of capital and income from dividends by holding each of the 500 stocks that make up the unmanaged Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Stock Price Index, a widely recognized benchmark of U.S. market performance. The value per share was $188.67 and $169.28 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. At December 31, 2014, 3,163 Plan participants were invested in the fund.
The Vanguard Wellington Fund Admiral Shares seeks to provide income and long-term growth of capital, without undue risk to capital, by investing approximately 65% of its assets in stocks and the remaining 35% in bonds. The value per share was $67.61 and $65.53 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. At December 31, 2014, 2,477 Plan participants were invested in the fund.
The Vanguard Morgan Growth Fund Admiral Shares seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation by investing in mid-sized and large companies that are expected to have above average growth in sales and profits. The value per share was $78.51 and $79.34 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. At December 31, 2014, 971 Plan participants were invested in the fund.
The Vanguard Windsor II Fund Admiral Shares seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation and income by investing mainly in mid-sized and large companies whose stocks are considered by the fund’s advisor to be undervalued. The value per share was $66.20 and $65.24 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. At December 31, 2014, 1,044 Plan participants were invested in the fund.
The Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund seeks to provide long-term growth of capital and income by investing in four Vanguard funds: a domestic stock fund, an international stock fund, a bond fund and an asset allocation fund. The portfolio’s asset allocation ranges are expected to be 80% stocks and 20% bonds. The value per share was $28.81 and $27.62 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. At December 31, 2014, 2,175 Plan participants were invested in the fund.
The Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund seeks to provide income and long-term growth of capital and income by investing in four Vanguard funds: a domestic stock fund, an international stock fund, a bond fund and an asset allocation fund. The portfolio’s asset allocation ranges are expected to be 60% stocks and 40% bonds.

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AIRGAS, INC. 401(k) PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

The value per share was $24.08 and $23.11 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. At December 31, 2014, 1,675 Plan participants were invested in the fund.
The Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund seeks to provide income and moderate long-term growth of capital and income by investing in five Vanguard funds: a domestic stock fund, an international stock fund, two bond funds and an asset allocation fund. The portfolio’s asset allocation ranges are expected to be 40% stocks and 60% bonds and short-term cash investments. The value per share was $18.44 and $18.05 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. At December 31, 2014, 10,743 Plan participants were invested in the fund.
The Vanguard LifeStrategy Income Fund seeks to provide a high level of income by investing in four Vanguard funds: a stock fund, two bond funds and an asset allocation fund. The portfolio’s asset allocation ranges are expected to be 20% stocks, 60% bonds and 20% short-term cash reserves. The value per share was $14.91 and $14.32 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. At December 31, 2014, 849 Plan participants were invested in the fund.
The Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Institutional Shares seeks to provide a high level of interest income by attempting to match the performance of the unmanaged Barclay’s Capital Aggregate Bond Index, a widely recognized measure of the entire taxable U.S. bond market. The value per share was $10.87 and $10.56 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. At December 31, 2014, 2,269 Plan participants were invested in the fund.
The Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust III seeks stability of principal and a high level of current income consistent with a two-to-three year average maturity. The Trust is a tax-exempt common collective trust invested primarily in fully-benefit responsive investment contracts issued by insurance companies and commercial banks, and similar types of fixed-principal investments. The Trust intends to maintain a constant net asset value of $1.00 per share. The principal and interest of these contracts are not guaranteed. At December 31, 2014, 3,061 Plan participants were invested in the Trust.
(d)
Notes Receivable from Participants
Notes receivable from participants represent participant loans that are measured at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. Subsequent to a remedy period that provides for the repayment of defaulted loans, uncollectible defaulted loans are treated as taxable distributions from the Plan to the respective participants.
(e)
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires the Plan administrator to make estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
(f)
Risks and Uncertainties
The Plan invests in various investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks such as interest rate, market and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the statement of net assets available for benefits.
(3)
Investments
The following investments represent 5% or more of the Plan’s net assets available for benefits:

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AIRGAS, INC. 401(k) PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 
December 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
Airgas Common Stock Fund
$
155,761,864

 
$
156,725,051

 
Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares
*
 
69,658,281

 
Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund
129,623,419

 
99,656,206

 
Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust
*
 
90,821,411

(1) 
Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund Investor Shares
*
 
41,964,249

 
Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund
44,229,548

 
39,285,657

 
Vanguard Explorer Fund Investor Shares
*
 
44,829,463

 
Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares
*
 
66,654,021

 
Vanguard Explorer Fund Admiral Shares
44,162,822

 
*
 
Vanguard Institutional Index Fund
79,633,763

 
*
 
Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund Admiral Shares
48,422,600

 
*
 
Vanguard Wellington Fund Admiral Shares
72,668,621

 
*
 
Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust III
85,938,564

(1) 
*
 
(1)Stated at contract value.
* Balance was less than 5% of the Plan’s net assets available for benefits.

The net appreciation in the fair value of the Plan’s investments (including realized gains and losses) was as follows:
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Airgas Common Stock Fund
$
4,558,014

 
$
29,275,732

Mutual funds
10,980,225

 
66,629,265

Net appreciation in fair value of investments
$
15,538,239

 
$
95,904,997

Investment Contracts
Fully benefit-responsive investment contracts included within the Trust serve as an option in a carefully structured investment plan. Plan participants may ordinarily direct the withdrawal or transfer of all or a portion of their investments in the Trust at contract value. Contract value represents contributions made plus interest accrued at the contract rate, less participant withdrawals and administrative expenses.
There are no reserves against the contract value for credit risk of the contract issuer or otherwise. The average yield was 2.30% for 2014 and 1.98% for 2013. The average crediting interest rate was 2.39% for 2014 and 2.06% for 2013. The crediting interest rate is based on a formula agreed upon with the issuer, but may not be less than zero. Such interest rates are reviewed on a quarterly basis for resetting.
The existence of certain conditions can limit the Trust’s ability to transact at contract value with issuers of its investment contracts. Specifically, any event outside of the normal operation of the Trust that causes a withdrawal from an investment contract may result in a negative market value adjustment with respect to the withdrawal. Examples of such events include, but are not limited to, partial or complete legal termination of the Trust or a unit holder, tax disqualification of the Trust or a unit holder, and certain Trust amendments if the issuers’ consent is not obtained. As of December 31, 2014, the occurrence of an event outside of the normal operation of the Trust that would cause a withdrawal from an investment contract is not considered to be probable.
Summarized below are the carrying (contract) and fair values of the Trust, which is reflected at its carrying value in net assets available for benefits on the Plan’s statements of net assets available for benefits. The computation of the fair value of the Trust is performed by the Company (see Note 4).

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AIRGAS, INC. 401(k) PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 
December 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust
$

 
$

 
$
90,821,411

 
$
93,352,424

Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust III
85,938,564

 
88,576,637

 

 

(4)
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value are classified based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. The hierarchical levels related to the subjectivity of the valuation inputs are defined as follows:
Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.
Level 2 inputs are inputs, other than quoted prices included within Level 1, that are directly or indirectly observable through corroboration with observable market data at the measurement date.
Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs that reflect management’s best estimate of the assumptions (including assumptions about risk) that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date.
The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value:
Airgas Common Stock Fund: Valued based on the combined quoted market prices in active markets of the underlying shares of Airgas common stock and a money market component.
Mutual funds: Valued at the net asset value of shares held by the Plan.
Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust III and Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust: Valued, as reflected in the Plan’s investments at fair value on the statements of net assets available for benefits at December 31, 2014 and 2013, based on the expected future cash flows for each contract discounted to present value using observable market data as inputs, and the aggregate observable market values of the underlying investments in mutual funds, bond trusts and other investments.
The Plan’s assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2014 and 2013 are categorized in the table below based on the lowest level of significant input to the valuation:

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AIRGAS, INC. 401(k) PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 
Balance at
Quoted prices in active markets
Significant other observable inputs
Significant unobservable inputs
 
December 31, 2014
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Airgas Common Stock Fund
$
155,761,864

$
155,761,864

$

$

 
 
 
 
 
Mutual funds
 
 
 
 
Equity
239,845,963

239,845,963



Balanced
292,567,027

292,567,027



Bond
35,865,973

35,865,973



Money Market
15,935

15,935



 
 
 
 
 
Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust III
88,576,637


88,576,637


Total investments at fair value
$
812,633,399

$
724,056,762

$
88,576,637

$

 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at
Quoted prices in active markets
Significant other observable inputs
Significant unobservable inputs
 
December 31, 2013
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Airgas Common Stock Fund
$
156,725,051

$
156,725,051

$

$

 
 
 
 
 
Mutual funds
 
 
 
 
Equity
221,486,265

221,486,265



Balanced
247,685,273

247,685,273



Bond
31,274,882

31,274,882



Money Market
59,963

59,963



 
 
 
 
 
Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust
93,352,424


93,352,424


Total investments at fair value
$
750,583,858

$
657,231,434

$
93,352,424

$

The methods described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, while Plan management believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date.
(5)
Tax Status
The Plan administrator has received a determination letter from the IRS dated May 21, 2012, stating that the Plan is qualified under IRC Section 401.
GAAP requires the Plan administrator to evaluate tax positions taken by the Plan and recognize a tax liability (or asset) if the Plan has taken an uncertain position that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination by the IRS. The Plan administrator has analyzed the tax positions taken by the Plan, and has concluded that as of December 31, 2014, there are no uncertain positions taken or expected to be taken that would require recognition of a liability (or asset) or disclosure in the financial statements. The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress. The Plan administrator believes it is no longer subject to income tax examinations for years prior to 2012.
The Plan administrator believes that the Plan is designed and is currently being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC.
(6)
Related Party Transactions
The Plan investments are managed by an affiliate of Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company (the Plan trustee). The Airgas Common Stock Fund invests in common stock of the Company. Investment transactions of the Plan, therefore, qualify as party-in-interest transactions, but are not prohibited transactions.

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AIRGAS, INC. 401(k) PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

(7)
Plan Termination
Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. Upon termination of the Plan, participants would remain fully vested in all amounts credited to their accounts under the Plan.
(8)
Transfers from Other Plans and Other Additions
Transfers from other plans and other additions primarily reflect the assumption by the Plan of entire benefit plans of certain companies acquired by Airgas.
(9)
Differences between Financial Statements and Form 5500
The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to the Plan’s Form 5500:
 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements
$
836,396,273

 
$
772,622,155

Deemed distributions of participant loans
(97,493
)
 
(115,373
)
Adjustment from contract value to fair value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts
2,638,073

 
2,531,013

Net assets available for benefits per Form 5500
$
838,936,853

 
$
775,037,795


The following is a reconciliation of net additions per the financial statements to the Plan’s Form 5500:
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Net additions per the financial statements
$
63,774,118

 
$
117,964,191

Change in deemed distributions of participant loans
17,880

 
(45,132
)
Change in adjustment from contract value to fair value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts
107,060

 
(2,627,083
)
Transfers from other plans
(10,146,458
)
 

Net income per Form 5500
$
53,752,600

 
$
115,291,976



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AIRGAS, INC. 401(k) PLAN
Schedule H, line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
December 31, 2014

 
Identity of Issue
Description of Investment
 
Current Value
*
Airgas Common Stock Fund
Company Stock Fund
 
$
155,761,864

*
Vanguard Institutional Index Fund
Registered Investment Company
 
79,633,763

*
Vanguard Explorer Fund Admiral Shares
Registered Investment Company
 
44,162,822

*
Vanguard International Growth Fund Admiral Shares
Registered Investment Company
 
34,673,114

*
Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth Fund
Registered Investment Company
 
129,623,419

*
Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund
Registered Investment Company
 
44,229,548

*
Vanguard LifeStrategy Income Fund
Registered Investment Company
 
11,109,458

*
Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund
Registered Investment Company
 
34,935,982

*
Vanguard Morgan Growth Fund Admiral Shares
Registered Investment Company
 
13,910,350

*
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Institutional Shares
Registered Investment Company
 
35,865,973

*
Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund Admiral Shares
Registered Investment Company
 
48,422,600

*
Vanguard Wellington Fund Admiral Shares
Registered Investment Company
 
72,668,621

*
Vanguard Windsor II Fund Admiral Shares
Registered Investment Company
 
19,043,314

*
Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund
Registered Investment Company
 
15,935

*
Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust III
Common Collective Trust
 
88,576,637

*
Notes Receivable from Participants
Interest ranging from 3.25% to 11.00%, maturing through October 2044
 
26,104,891

Total
 
 
$
838,738,291


* Party-in-interest

See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.


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SIGNATURES
                           

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Plan Administrator has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

AIRGAS, INC. 401(k) PLAN
(Name of Plan)


BY: /s/ Robert M. McLaughlin
Robert M. McLaughlin
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Airgas, Inc.



BY: /s/ Pamela J. Claypool
Pamela J. Claypool
Senior Vice President - Human Resources
Airgas, Inc.


DATED: June 19, 2015



15

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EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit

23        Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm