LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Jan. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --

Access the Q1 earnings teleconference scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on January21 by calling (719) 325-2341 and entering passcode 4791604, or listen on the Web at: www.airproducts.com/Invest/financialnews/Earnings_Releases/Teleconference.htm.

First Quarter Highlights Versus Prior Year

• Sales increased 10% on volume growth--Record Asia Merchant sales up 35%
• Operating margin of 16.9% up 100 basis points*
• EPS of $1.35 up 16%*

Air Products (NYSE: APD) today reported net income of $296 million, or diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.35, for its fiscal first quarter ended December 31, 2010 versus $252 million and $1.16 for the first quarter of fiscal 2010. This result excludes an after-tax charge of $27 million, or $0.12per share, for costs associated with the tender offer for the outstanding shares of Airgas,Inc.

The discussion of first quarter results and guidance in this release is based on non-GAAP comparisons. A reconciliation can be found at the end of this release.*

First quarter revenues of $2,392 million increased 10 percent versus the prior year driven by higher sales across all segments. This was led by volume growth across our Electronics and Performance Materials, Tonnage Gases and Merchant Gases segments. Sequentially, sales increased two percent. Operating income of $404million was up 17 percent from the prior year on improved volumes and one percent sequentially.

John McGlade, chairman, president and chief executive officer, said, "We're off to a very good start for our new fiscal year. In the quarter, we produced double-digit volume growth and improved margins and returns. The Air Products team continues to deliver on its commitments."

First Quarter Segment Performance

• Merchant Gases sales of $988 million increased six percent versus prior year, primarily driven by Asia, which saw its highest increase in sales and volumes in recent history. Operating income of $201 million increased six percent from the prior year on higher volumes and pricing. Sequentially, sales rose four percent driven primarily by favorable currency.

• Tonnage Gases sales of $766 million were up 10 percent on improved volumes from loading at existing plants and new plant onstreams. Operating income of $116 million increased 15 percent from the prior year primarily on higher volumes, lower maintenance costs and improved plant efficiencies. Sequentially, sales were up two percent with volumes up five percent and energy and raw material cost pass-throughs lowering sales by four percent.

• Electronics and Performance Materials sales of $526 million increased 21percent on higher volumes and flat pricing. Electronics sales were up 30 percent, and Performance Materials sales rose 11 percent versus last year. Operating income of $69 million increased 42 percent from the prior year on improved volumes and productivity. Sequential sales were up one percent due to favorable pricing and currency offset by seasonal volume declines. Operating income was down 18% sequentially due to volume seasonality and inventory revaluation.

• Equipment and Energy sales of $112 million were up three percent. Operating income of $20 million increased significantly from the prior year on higher LNG activity.

Outlook

Looking ahead, McGlade said, "Building on our solid performance and a gradually recovering global economy, we are focused on winning customer orders, bringing new plants onstream and delivering productivity. We are well on our way to achieving double digit earnings growth, improved return on capital and 17 percent operating margins in 2011."

Air Products is raising its guidance for fiscal 2011 to $5.55 to $5.70 per share. The company also expects second quarter EPS to be between $1.36 and $1.40 per share.

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

Air Products will host its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Thursday, January 27, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. ET. Access the audio Webcast at: www.airproducts.com/Invest/shareholdersvcs/annualmeeting_materials.htm.

Air Products (NYSE: APD) serves customers in industrial, energy, technology and healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, and equipment and services. Founded in 1940, AirProducts 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. In fiscal 2010, Air Products had revenues of $9 billion, operations in over 40 countries, and 18,300 employees around the globe. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.

Note: This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including earnings guidance, projections and targets. These forward-looking statements are based on management's reasonable expectations and assumptions as of the date this release is issued regarding important risk factors. Actual performance and financial results may differ materially from projections and estimates expressed in the forward-looking statements because of many factors not anticipated by management, including, without limitation, slowing of global economic recovery; renewed deterioration in economic and business conditions; weakening demand for the Company's products; future financial and operating performance of major customers and industries served by the Company; unanticipated contract terminations or customer cancellations or postponement of projects and sales; the success of commercial negotiations; asset impairments due to economic conditions or specific product or customer events; the impact of competitive products and pricing; interruption in ordinary sources of supply of raw materials; the ability to recover unanticipated increased energy and raw material costs from customers; costs and outcomes of litigation or regulatory activities; successful development and market acceptance of new products and applications, the ability to attract, hire and retain qualified personnel in all regions of the world where the Company operates; consequences of acts of war or terrorism impacting the United States and other markets; the effects of a natural disaster; the success of cost reduction and productivity programs and achieving anticipated acquisition synergies; the timing, impact, and other uncertainties of future acquisitions or divestitures; significant fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currencies from that currently anticipated; the continued availability of capital funding sources in all of the Company's foreign operations; the impact of environmental, healthcare, tax or other legislation and regulations in jurisdictions in which the Company and its affiliates operate; the impact of new or changed financial accounting guidance; the timing and rate at which tax credits can be utilized and other risk factors described in the Company's Form 10K for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2010. The Company disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this document to reflect any change in the Company's assumptions, beliefs or expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances upon which any such forward-looking statements are based.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

On February 11, 2010, Air Products Distribution, Inc. ("Purchaser"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. ("Air Products"), commenced a cash tender offer for all the outstanding shares of common stock of Airgas, Inc. ("Airgas") not already owned by Air Products, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated as of February 11, 2010, as amended (the "Offer to Purchase"). The purchase price to be paid upon the successful closing of the tender offer is $70 per share in cash, without interest and less any required withholding tax, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, as amended. The tender offer is scheduled to expire at midnight, New York City time, on Friday, February 4, 2011, unless further amended in the manner set forth in the Schedule TO.

This communication does not constitute an offer to buy or solicitation of an offer to sell any securities. The tender offer is being made pursuant to a tender offer statement on Schedule TO (including the Offer to Purchase, a related letter of transmittal and other tender offer materials) filed by Air Products with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on February 11, 2010. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF AIRGAS ARE URGED TO READ THESE AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders can obtain free copies of these documents and other documents filed with the SEC by Air Products through the web site maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. The Offer to Purchase and related materials may also be obtained for free by contacting the Information Agent for the tender offer, MacKenzie Partners, Inc., at 212-929-5500 or toll-free at 800-322-2885.

* The presentation of non-GAAP measures is intended to enhance the usefulness of financial information by providing measures which our management uses internally to evaluate our baseline performance on a comparable basis. Presented below are reconciliations of the reported GAAP results to the non-GAAP measures.

AIRGAS TRANSACTION

In February 2010, we commenced a tender offer to acquire all the outstanding common stock of Airgas, Inc. (Airgas), including the associated preferred stock purchase rights, for $60.00 per share in cash, less any required withholding tax, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated 11 February 2010, as amended. Airgas, a Delaware company, is the largest U.S. distributor of industrial, medical, and specialty gases, and hard goods. On 9 December 2010, we increased the value of our tender offer to $70.00 per share. At this price, the total value of the transaction would be approximately $7.8 billion, including $6.1 billion of equity and $1.7 billion of assumed debt. The offer and withdrawal rights are scheduled to expire on 4February2011, unless further extended.

In connection with this tender offer, we have secured committed financing in the form of a $6.7 billion term loan credit facility. Fees incurred to secure this credit facility have been deferred and are being amortized over the term of the arrangement.

For the three months ended 31 December 2010, $43.5 ($27.2 after-tax, or $.12 per share) in expense was recognized related to this transaction and is included within acquisition-related costs on the consolidated income statement. This includes amortization of the fees related to the term loan credit facility and other acquisition-related costs.

We utilize a non-GAAP measure in the computation of capital expenditures and include spending associated with facilities accounted for as capital leases. Certain contracts associated with facilities that are built to provide product to a specific customer are required to be accounted for as leases, and such spending is reflected as a use of cash within cash provided by operating activities. The presentation of this non-GAAP measure is intended to enhance the usefulness of information by providing a measure which our management uses internally to evaluate and manage our expenditures.

Below is a reconciliation of capital expenditures on a GAAP basis to a non-GAAP measure.

SOURCE Air Products