APD Air Products and Chemicals Inc

Air Products Reports Fourth Quarter EPS of 73 Cents Access the Q4 earnings teleconference scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) on October 27 by calling (719) 457-2649 and entering passcode 841282, or listen on the Web at www.airproducts.com/Invest/financialnews/EarningsReleases.htm. Access the teleconference slides at www.airproducts.com/Invest/financialnews/Earnings_Releases/Teleconference.htm. LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Air Products (NYSE:APD) today reported net income of $168 million or diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $.73 for its fourth fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2004. Net income increased 28 percent and diluted EPS increased 26 percent over the prior year. Record quarter revenues of $1,978 million were up 20 percent from the prior year on strong Gases volumes, particularly in the company's growth businesses. Sequentially, revenues increased four percent on improved Gases and Chemicals volumes. Operating income of $237 million was up 27 percent versus the prior year and one percent sequentially, principally driven by volume gains. Commenting on the quarter, John P. Jones, Air Products' chairman and chief executive officer, said, "This was another solid quarter, as our growth businesses delivered strong volume performance. Our return on capital improved as we continued to load our existing asset base." Gases segment sales of $1,396 million increased 22 percent over the prior year on higher volumes across the businesses, particularly electronics, refinery hydrogen, healthcare and Asia. Record operating income of $216 million increased 20 percent, driven mainly by strong volumes, favorable currency effects and acquisitions. Sequentially, gases revenues increased four percent due to stronger volume performance, mainly in electronics and refinery hydrogen. Operating income was up one percent as volume gains were partially offset by higher operating costs. Chemicals segment sales of $483 million were up 16 percent versus the prior year, primarily on strong volumes across the businesses. But higher raw material and manufacturing costs offset these gains, with operating income down nine percent to $27 million. Sequentially, chemicals revenues increased seven percent, mainly on higher volumes in polyurethane intermediates and epoxy additives. Operating income was down 10 percent. Equipment segment revenues of $99 million increased 24 percent over the prior year on higher air separation plant and liquefied natural gas (LNG) heat exchanger sales. Operating income also increased on higher LNG activity. For fiscal 2004, Air Products' sales of $7.4 billion increased 18 percent. Approximately half of this increase was associated with higher volumes, while the remainder was principally due to acquisitions and favorable currency effects. Net income of $604 million was up 22 percent* and diluted EPS of $2.64 was up 19 percent* excluding last year's global cost reduction charge. Reflecting on the year, Jones said, "We built our positions serving growth markets and geographies, further improved our portfolio, strengthened our customer relationships and drove up return on capital. We also set the foundation for improving our productivity by bringing more than 70 percent of our businesses onto SAP and driving continuous improvement efforts." "We anticipate another solid year of improvement in 2005, driven by a step-change in productivity and modest global economic growth, which will help us load our existing asset base and further improve our return on capital. In Gases, we expect continued growth in our electronics, refinery hydrogen, healthcare and Asian businesses. We know we must fix our Chemicals business, and we are committed to delivering significant margin improvements through pricing actions and managing our raw material costs. And in Equipment, we expect improved performance from stronger LNG demand. Given this outlook, we are providing a fiscal 2005 guidance range of $2.90 to $3.10, which includes an estimated $.10 to $.15 of costs associated with achieving our increased productivity targets." Jones added that Air Products expects fiscal 2005 first quarter EPS in the range of $.67 to $.70, up 16 to 21 percent from $.58 in the first quarter of fiscal 2004. Air Products (NYSE:APD) serves customers in technology, energy, healthcare and industrial markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of products, services and solutions, providing atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials and chemical intermediates. Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives. The company is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment and is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability and FTSE4Good Indices. The company has annual revenues of $7.4 billion, operations in over 30 countries, and nearly 20,000 employees around the globe. For more information, visit http://www.airproducts.com/. NOTE: The forward-looking statements contained in this release are based on current expectations regarding important risk factors. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed. Factors that might cause forward- looking statements to differ materially from actual results include, among other things, overall economic and business conditions different than those currently anticipated and demand for Air Products' goods and services; competitive factors in the industries in which it competes; interruption in ordinary sources of supply; the ability to recover unanticipated increased energy and raw material costs from customers; uninsured litigation judgments or settlements; spikes in the pricing of natural gas; changes in government regulations; consequences of acts of war or terrorism impacting the United States' and other markets; charges related to currently unplanned portfolio management and cost reduction actions; the success of implementing cost reduction programs; the timing, impact and other uncertainties of future acquisitions or divestitures; significant fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currencies from that currently anticipated; the impact of tax and other legislation and regulations in jurisdictions in which Air Products and its affiliates operate; and the timing and rate at which tax credits can be utilized. *This press release contains non-GAAP measures, which exclude the impact of the 2003 global cost reduction plan charge. The presentation of these non- GAAP measures is intended to enhance the usefulness of financial information by providing measures which are indicators of the company's baseline performance. The company's management uses these non-GAAP measures internally to evaluate its business and as a basis for forecasting future periods. The table below presents a reconciliation of GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures: Twelve Months Ended 30 September Millions of dollars, except per share FY03 2003 FY03 FY04 FY04 FY04 GAAP Global Non-GAAP GAAP Vs Vs Basis Cost Measures Basis FY03 FY03 Reduction GAAP Non- Plan Basis GAAP Charge Basis Net Income $397.3 $96.5 $493.8 $604.1 52% 22% Diluted EPS $1.78 $.43 $2.21 $2.64 48% 19% Please review the attached financial tables, including the Summary of Consolidated Financial Information: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC. SUMMARY OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Unaudited) (Millions of dollars, except per share) Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended 30 September 30 September 2004 2003 2004 2003 Sales $1,977.5 $1,642.3 $7,411.4 $6,297.3 Income Before Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change $168.1 $131.3 $604.1 $400.2 (a) Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change -- -- -- (2.9) Net Income $168.1 $131.3 $604.1 $397.3 (a) Basic Earnings Per Share: Income Before Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change $.75 $.59 $2.70 $1.82 (a) Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change -- -- -- (.01) Net Income $.75 $.59 $2.70 $1.81 (a) Diluted Earnings Per Share: Income Before Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change $.73 $.58 $2.64 $1.79 (a) Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change -- -- -- (.01) Net Income $.73 $.58 $2.64 $1.78 (a) Capital Expenditures $232.9 $478.4 $815.5 $1,170.9 Depreciation $180.5 $163.1 $696.0 $640.2 (a) Included an after-tax charge of $96.5, or $.43 per share, for a global cost reduction plan. DATASOURCE: Air Products CONTACT: Media Inquiries: Katie McDonald, +1-610-481-3673, , or Investor Inquiries: Phil Sproger, +1-610-481-7461, , both of Air Products Web site: http://www.airproducts.com/

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