<PAGE> 1
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 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) 26 October 1994
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
-------------------------------
(Exact name of registrant in charter)
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Delaware 1-4534 23-1274455
- - ---------------------------------------------- ---------------------- -------------------------
(State of other jurisdiction of Incorporation) (Commission file number) (IRS Identification number)
7201 Hamiliton Boulevard, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18195-1501
- - -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
</TABLE>
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (215/610)-481-4911
<PAGE> 2
Item 5. Other Events.
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. announced today, a subsidiary of the
Company has reached an agreement in principle with Corporation Industrial y
Financiera de Banesto, S.A. (Banesto) and certain other major shareholders to
acquire a 39.7 percent interest in Sociedad Espanola de Carburos Metalicos,
S.A., Spain's leading industrial gas supplier. The definitive agreements with
the major shareholders are expected to be signed soon. The transaction is
subject to the approval of the Comision Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV),
Spain's securities exchange authority, and other Spanish agencies.
The agreement contemplates that Air Products would file three separate
tender offer applications with the CNMV, the first of which is expected to be
filed by early November 1994, and the second and third by October 1995 and
October 1996. Each application, if approved, would enable Air Products to make
a cash tender for all the Carburos shares that remain outstanding at the time
of the offer. Such a multi-tender offer structure, which spreads capital
requirements over several years, has been used previously in Spain. It is
expected that most shares that are tendered would be tendered in the second and
third offers.
Air Products, which has held an equity position in the company since
1982, currently owns 25.8 percent of the outstanding Carburos shares. If all
the shares Air Products does not currently own were tendered, the value of the
transaction would be approximately $400 million based on forecast exchange
rates.
Under the agreement, the major shareholders would not participate in the
initial offering, and would be allowed to tender up to half of their shares in
<PAGE> 3
the second offering, and up to half in the third offering. In addition, the
major shareholders would grant Air Products call options exerciseable until
November 30, 1997 to acquire all of their shares which were not tendered
earlier. All other Carburos shareholders would have the opportunity to
participate in the tender and call option provisions.
Carburos is the leading industrial and medical gases company in Spain,
with a third of the $500-$600 million market. Its 1993 sales in gases and
related products were approximately $250 million (at current exchange rates)
including revenues from its industrial gas operations in Portugal. Since it
bought its original 15 percent interest in the company in 1982, Air Products
has added to its ownership position and provided technology, commercial, and
management skills to support Carburos' business activities.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
-------------------------------
(Registrant)
Dated: October 26, 1994 By: /s/ Gerald A. White
------------------------------
Gerald A. White
