17 November 2003

             Afrox agrees to sell its holding in Afrox Healthcare              

On 14 July 2003 African Oxygen Limited (`Afrox') announced a strategic review
with regard to its shareholdings in Afrox Healthcare Limited (`Afrox
Healthcare'). That strategic review has been completed and today Afrox has
announced it has agreed to sell its entire holding in Afrox Healthcare to a
consortium of Black Economic Empowerment (`BEE') investors led by Brimstone
Investment Corporation Limited and Mvelaphanda Strategic Investments
(Proprietary) Limited. Afrox Healthcare will become the first significant BEE
owned and controlled private hospital and healthcare group in South Africa.

The sale by Afrox and the associated offer by the BEE consortium to minority
shareholders in Afrox Healthcare are subject to certain conditions, including
clearance from the relevant competition and other regulatory authorities.

Afrox's holding in Afrox Healthcare will be acquired at a price of 13.85 rand
per share, increased at an effective rate of 5.6 per cent per annum from 1
October 2003 until the operative completion date. For illustrative purposes, if
the operative date is 30 April 2004 the total amount payable for each Afrox
Healthcare share will be 13.85 rand, plus 0.45 rand, being the escalation at
the effective rate of 5.6 per cent per annum, giving a total of 14.30 rand per
share. Afrox has announced its intention to distribute the net proceeds to
shareholders.

BOC, through its 56 per cent shareholding in Afrox, has an economic interest of
approximately 38.7 per cent in Afrox Healthcare. The total number of Afrox
healthcare shares in issue is approximately 224,120,000. Afrox will have a
capital gains tax liability on the proceeds from its sale of Afrox Healthcare
shares at an effective rate of 15 per cent. There is a potential secondary tax
charge at an effective rate of 12.5 per cent on distributions paid by South
African companies

The disposal would have reduced BOC Group earnings per share for the year to 30
September 2003 by a maximum 1.5p on the basis of a full distribution of all
sale proceeds to Afrox shareholders.

Tony Isaac, BOC chief executive, commented: `Afrox Healthcare has grown
substantially over recent years and we are delighted to have benefited from
that growth. It is now a strong and mature business able to adopt a new role in
the developing South African economy. The strength of the rand makes this a
very good time for BOC to receive the proceeds from the sale of its interest in
Afrox Healthcare.'

Contact:        Christopher Marsay, Director - Investor Relations              
                                                                               
                Tel: 01276 477222 (International +44 1276 477222)              



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