LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., March 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Air Products (NYSE: APD) is one of 34 worldwide companies out of 3220 to receive a top governance rating of 10 from GovernanceMetrics International (GMI), an independent corporate governance research and ratings agency. Air Products also received the top score when it was rated last year by GMI.

"Integrity is the foundation of good corporate governance and corporate responsibility. We are honored to once again be recognized by GMI as a leader in this area," said John P. Jones, chairman and chief executive officer of Air Products.

GMI assesses governance practices across a broad spectrum of companies in North America, Europe and Asia based on securities regulations, stock exchange listing requirements, and various corporate governance codes and principles. Their ratings system incorporates hundreds of data points across six broad categories of analysis: board accountability, financial disclosure and internal controls, executive compensation, shareholder rights, takeover provisions, and corporate behavior and social responsibility.

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: This release may contain forward-looking statements. Actual results could vary materially, due to changes in current expectations.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For more information about corporate responsibility at Air Products, visit http://www.airproducts.com/Responsibility/default.htm .

SOURCE  Air Products
    -0-                             03/09/2005
    /CONTACT:  Media Inquiries: Betsy Klebe, +1-610-481-4697,
klebeel@airproducts.com, or Investor Inquiries: Phil Sproger, +1-610-481-7461,
sprogepc@airproducts.com, both of Air Products/
    /Web site:  http://www.airproducts.com /
    (APD)

CO:  Air Products; GovernanceMetrics International
ST:  Pennsylvania
IN:  CHM CPR
SU:  AWD

PD
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8679 03/09/2005 11:07 EST http://www.prnewswire.com