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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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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) 23 October 1996
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Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
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<S> <C> <C>
Delaware 1-4534 23-1274455
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(State of other jurisdiction of incorporation) (Commission file number) (IRS Identification number)
7201 Hamilton Boulevard, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18195-1501
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
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Registrant's telephone number, including area code (610) 481-4911
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Item 5. Other Events.
The Registrant reported net income of $94 million, or 85 cents per
share, for the quarter ended September 30, 1996. These results compare with
net income of $93 million, or 84 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter.
Sales rose 7 percent, to $1.1 billion versus $979 million last year.
Industrial gas sales were up 5 percent for the quarter, reflecting good
progress loading new plant and pipeline capacity, principally for the U.S.
chemicals processing and refinery industry. Operating income was down 6
percent, as modest profit growth in North America partially offset weaker
results in northern Europe. Gas equity affiliate income was up for the
quarter, with the company's Asian, Italian, and Spanish joint ventures
reporting good results. With operating income up $8 million over the prior
year, the equipment and services segment continued to post broad-based
improvement and will take a substantial backlog of high-quality project work
into the next fiscal year.
Chemicals sales rose 9 percent, driven by volume gains in most major
businesses. Operating income increased by 3 percent, as scheduled plant
outages and associated inventory reductions tempered the quarter's results.
Profits for the environmental and energy systems segment were up from a
year ago, benefiting from improved operations across all businesses and some
favorable contract-related settlements.
The Corporate and Other segment included a modest loss on foreign
exchange in the current period, compared to a prior year gain of approximately
$7 million.
The quarter's results also included higher interest expense related to
the company's capital investment program.
For fiscal 1996, the Registrant reported net income of $416 million, or
$3.73 per share, versus $368 million, or $3.29 per share, for the same period
last year. Excluding special items in both years (an after-tax gain of $41
million, or 36 cents per share, in the current fiscal year and an after-tax
gain of $6 million, or 6 cents per share, in 1995) earnings per share increased
4 percent and return on equity was 15 percent. Sales of $4 billion were up 4
percent over the prior year.
Financial tables follow:
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AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
SUMMARY OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(Unaudited)
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<CAPTION>
(In millions, except earnings per share)
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Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
30 September 30 September
1996 1995 1996 1995
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Sales $1,051 $979 $4,008 $3,865
Net Income $ 94 $ 93 $ 416(a) $ 368(b)
Earnings Per Share $ .85 $.84 $ 3.73(a) $ 3.29(b)
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(a)Includes an after-tax gain of $41 million, or $.36 per share, from the
settlement with Bankers Trust Company over losses reported
in fiscal 1994 associated with leveraged interest rate swap contracts.
(b)Includes an after-tax gain of $6 million, or $.06 per share, from the sale
of an industrial gas plant.
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AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
OPERATING RESULTS
(Unaudited)
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<CAPTION>
SUMMARY BY BUSINESS SEGMENTS
(In millions)
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Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
30 September 30 September
1996 1995 1996 1995
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Sales:
Industrial $ 590 $564 $2,310 $2,177
Chemicals 360 332 1,362 1,359
Environmental/Energy 17 16 60 58
Equipment/Services 84 67 276 271
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CONSOLIDATED $1,051 $979 $4,008 $3,865
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Operating Income:
Industrial Gases $ 101 $107 $ 406 $ 445
Chemicals 42 41 199 193
Environmental/Energy 6 (3) 8 (5)
Equipment/Services 10 2 23 (2)
Corporate and Other (16) (4) (45) (29)
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CONSOLIDATED $ 143 $143 $ 591 $ 602
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Equity Affiliates' Income:
Industrial Gases $ 13 $ 9 $ 44 $ 22
Chemicals -- 1 -- 1
Environmental/Energy 13 8 36 28
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CONSOLIDATED $ 26 $ 18 $ 80 $ 51
Gain on settlement of leveraged
interest rate swaps -- -- 67 --
Interest expense 35 25 129 100
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INCOME BEFORE TAXES 134 136 609 553
Income taxes 40 43 193 185
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NET INCOME $ 94 $ 93 $ 416 $ 368
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During the second quarter of 1996, the Company reached a $67 million settlement
with Bankers Trust Company over $107 million in losses the Company reported in
fiscal 1994 associated with leveraged interest rate swap contracts. The
settlement included the termination of two previously closed contracts with
Bankers Trust. Prior to the settlement there was an outstanding liability of
$62 million associated with these closed contracts. The results for the twelve
months ended 30 September 1996 include a gain of $67 million ($41 million after
tax) from the settlement.
In April 1996, the Company announced its plan to divest its joint venture
interest in a waste-to-energy business and commence a share repurchase program
designed to acquire approximately 10 percent of its 112 million shares
outstanding for financial reporting purposes. The company bought back 1.8
million shares of its common stock during fiscal year 1996.
The twelve months ended 30 September 1995 include a gain of $11 million ($6
million after tax) from the sale of an industrial gas plant.
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AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
OPERATING RESULTS
(Unaudited)
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<CAPTION>
SUMMARY BY GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS
(In millions)
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Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
30 September 30 September
1996 1995 1996 1995
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Sales:
United States $ 794 $735 $3,017 $2,895
Europe 214 211 832 837
Canada/Latin America 37 32 143 130
Other 6 1 16 3
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CONSOLIDATED $1,051 $979 $4,008 $3,865
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Operating Income:
United States $ 109 $101 $ 461 $ 457
Europe 30 34 116 119
Canada/Latin America 4 8 14 26
Other -- -- -- --
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CONSOLIDATED $ 143 $143 $ 591 $ 602
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Equity Affiliates' Income:
United States $ 14 $ 8 $ 35 $ 27
Europe 6 5 24 16
Canada/Latin America 2 4 8 4
Other 4 1 13 4
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CONSOLIDATED $ 26 $ 18 $ 80 $ 51
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For the twelve months ended 30 September 1995, operating income of the United
States includes a gain of $11 million from the sale of an industrial gas plant.
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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.
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(Registrant)
Dated: 23 October 1996 By: /s/ Arnold H. Kaplan
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Arnold H. Kaplan
Vice President - Finance
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