BOC Report and accounts 2005 - Alle jaarverslagen

16 The BOC Group plc Annual report and accounts 2005 Group profile
Corporate development
Over the last three years BOC has continued to invest in its core businesses at the same time as divesting assets
and businesses that were no longer consistent with its strategy.
In October 2002, BOC acquired Environmental Management Corporation (EMC), a privately owned water
services company based in St Louis, Missouri. EMC manages water and wastewater treatment facilities for both
industrial and local municipal customers around the US. EMC forms part of the PGS line of business, which is
expanding the range of solutions offered to its industrial customer base.
BOC and Air Liquide merged their industrial and medical gases businesses in Japan in January 2003 and BOC’s
subsidiary in Japan has retained a 45 per cent interest in the combined company called Japan Air Gases Ltd.
At the end of January 2003, BOC acquired the partial oxidation syngas plant at Clear Lake,Texas, from
Celanese. Under the agreement BOC fulfils a significant proportion of the industrial gas requirements for the
Celanese chemical facility at Clear Lake.
In March 2003 BOC announced an agreement to purchase the Canadian packaged gas and related welding
equipment business of Air Products.The acquisition was completed in April 2003 following approval from the
Canadian regulatory authority.
In June 2003, BOC announced an agreement to obtain half the output of a new helium extraction facility to
be constructed in Qatar. Deliveries from the new source are now scheduled to commence during 2006.
In May 2004 BOC agreed to buy Duke Energy’s 30 per cent ownership interest in the Cantarell joint venture
company for US$59.7 million in cash.This increased BOC’s overall stake to 65 per cent on completion in
September 2004.This company supplies Pemex with nitrogen for the pressurisation of its oilfields in the Gulf
of Mexico.
BOC completed the disposal of the packaged gas part of its US ISP business to Airgas Inc on 30 July 2004.
The initial consideration received was US$175 million in cash and a final payment of US$20 million that had
been subject to performance conditions was recognised in 2005.These funds were received in November 2005.
All packaged gases and associated hardgoods were included in the sale.This comprised compressed industrial,
speciality (excluding electronic) and medical gases in the US, sold through BOC retail and distributor channels.
The sale did not include BOC’s bulk liquid helium, bulk medical gases and distributor businesses.
In October 2004, BOC purchased a 50 per cent holding in Asia Union Electronic Chemical Corporation
(AUECC).This acquisition expanded BOC Edwards’ electronic materials offering to include the purification, blending,
packaging and distribution of wet chemicals for flat panel display, semiconductor and solar cell manufacturers
throughout Asia.
In December 2004, BOC sold its shares in Unique Gas and Petrochemicals thereby divesting interests in the
LPG and bulk ammonia businesses in Thailand but the cylinder and aqueous ammonia business was retained.
At the end of January 2005, BOC acquired Calor Gas Limited’s UK aerosol propellants business.This includes
the sales, marketing and distribution of bulk and packaged propane, isobutene and butane blends in the UK.
The acquisition also included Calor’s CARE range of hydrocarbon refrigerants.
The segment reported as Afrox hospitals operated through Afrox Healthcare Limited up to the end of March
2005. It owned and managed private hospitals and clinics in southern Africa. BOC’s majority-owned subsidiary,
African Oxygen Limited (Afrox), held 69 per cent of Afrox Healthcare Limited (AHealth) when the company was
sold to a consortium led by two major black economic empowerment investors in March 2005.Afrox has retained
a significant interest in the hospitals business through a 20 per cent holding in the new company.
In September2005, Gist acquired G Van Dongen Holding BV, a European temperature-controlled transport
operator.The business, which had an annual turnover of some 46 million euros, expands Gist’s existing primary
food business into continental Europe by providing fresh chill and ambient transport services to food
manufacturers in the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Portugal and France.
Industrial gases
The BOC Group is one of the major producers of industrial gases in the world. Its products include the
atmospheric gases (nitrogen, oxygen and argon) produced by air separation plants as well as hydrogen, carbon
monoxide and syngas (a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide) made by technologies including steamreforming
or partial oxidation of hydrocarbons.The Group also markets carbon dioxide, helium and liquefied
petroleum gas.These are generally derived as by-products from chemical processes or from natural sources and
are also purchased from other producers. In addition, the Group markets dissolved acetylene and a wide range of
special gases, medical gases, gas mixtures and gaseous chemicals.
Industry structure and consolidationThe industrial gases business is capital-intensive, with increasing demand,
together with economies of scale, leading to the need for large production units and distribution networks.
The need for fixed asset investments, the trend towards global customers and the benefits from the transfer
of applications technology worldwide have resulted in the business being handled by a relatively small number
of companies internationally.
One or more of the other major international producers compete in each of the industrial gases markets
served by the Group, and in many of the markets there are smaller local producers as well. International
competitors include Air Liquide, Praxair,Air Products and Chemicals, Linde and Nippon Sanso.The world market
for gases and related products is estimated to be some £25 billion a year.