Messer wins US helium system auction

The US federal helium system will go to the industrial gas firm Messer for $423 million. The outcome is not a surprise, because only two companies, Messer and Lazarus Energy Holdings, placed bids in the auction, which took place in January; Messer’s bid was an order of magnitude larger. The final price is $70 million higher than Messer’s original bid, a change likely attributable to the value of the federally owned helium included in the sale. When the bids were first unsealed, helium consultant Phil Kornbluth said Messer’s offer for the 28 million m³ of helium involved was below market value.