Air Products and Grupa Azoty Zakłady Azotowe Kędzierzyn S.A. Sign New Contract for the Supply of Industrial Gases

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Nov. 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Products (NYSE: APD), a leading supplier of industrial gases in Poland, and Grupa Azoty Zakłady Azotowe Kędzierzyn S.A., part of Grupa Azoty, the second largest producer of mineral fertilizers in the European Union, have signed a long-term contract for the delivery of oxygen and nitrogen. The agreement will remain valid until the end of 2035 and extends cooperation between the companies which dates back to 1997. The contract also secures Air Products' position as a key supplier to major industries in Poland.

Under the contract, Air Products will provide oxygen and nitrogen gas to the Grupa Azoty Zakłady Azotowe Kędzierzyn plant, as well as liquid oxygen and nitrogen to other customers in Poland. The project will be implemented on the basis of an upgrade of Air Products' production facility which, with a capacity of approximately 2,000 tons per day, is one of the largest of its kind in Poland. Industrial gases supplied by Air Products are used by Grupa Azoty Zakłady Azotowe Kędzierzyn S.A. for the production of ammonia, OXO alcohols and in auxiliary processes. Nitrogen is also used to ensure the safety of production facilities on-site.

"We value long-term relationships with our clients based on mutual trust. Our long and successful cooperation with Grupa Azoty Zakłady Azotowe Kędzierzyn S.A. has resulted in the signing of a new contract extending our commitment to supply gases critical to our customer's operations. The plant in Kedzięrzyn–Koźle is the largest Air Products production unit in Central Europe. Poland is a key market for us and we plan for continued growth and development here," said Piotr Wieczorek, vice president, Air Products Central Europe.

"An agreement with such a large and reliable partner as Air Products guarantees a stable supply of industrial gases for the needs of our business in Kędzierzyn," stated Mariusz Bober, CEO of Grupa Azoty, who took part in the signing of the contract.

"Along with signing the agreement, the Air Products production plant will also be modernized. This is particularly important since our company uses such a significant amount of industrial gases," said Mateusz Gramza, President of the Management Board of Grupa Azoty Zakłady Azotowe Kędzierzyn S.A.

Liquid nitrogen has a number of applications due to its unique properties. Its very low temperature allows it to be used for quick food freezing, ice cream manufacture and packaging of food products (e.g., snacks or drinks). It is also used for cryotherapy, production of plastic, metal processing and for the production of artificial snow. Liquid oxygen is used by hospitals, for water treatment, and for oxygenating the water in fish farms. Oxygen is also used to improve quality and efficiency in the production of metals and glass.

About Air Products

Air Products (NYSE:APD) is a world-leading Industrial Gases company in operation for over 75 years. The Company's core industrial gases business provides atmospheric and process gases and related equipment to manufacturing markets, including refining and petrochemical, metals, electronics, and food and beverage. Air Products is also the world's leading supplier of liquefied natural gas process technology and equipment.

The Company had fiscal 2016 sales of $9.5 billion and has a current market capitalization of approximately $30 billion. Approximately 17,000 employees in 50 countries strive to make Air Products the world's safest and best performing industrial gases company, providing sustainable offerings and excellent service to all customers. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.

Grupa Azoty Zakłady Azotowe Kędzierzyn S.A.

Listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE:ATT), Grupa Azoty (whose parent company is Grupa Azoty S.A. with headquarters in Tarnów) is one of the key capital groups of the fertilizer – chemical industry in Europe and the outcome of a series of mergers and takeovers of chemical companies.

The Group includes such entities as: Grupa Azoty S.A. (parent company), Grupa Azoty Zakłady Azotowe "Puławy" S.A, Grupa Azoty Zakłady Chemiczne "Police" S.A., and Grupa Azoty Zakłady Azotowe Kędzierzyn S.A. At present, Grupa Azoty is the second largest manufacturer of nitrogen-based and complex fertilizers in the European Union.

Thanks to the manufacturing of such products as melamine, caprolactam, polyamides, OXO alcohols and titanium dioxide, Grupa Azoty has also become one of the major global chemical companies. Grupa Azoty products are used in various industries internationally.

NOTE: This release may contain forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management's reasonable expectations and assumptions as of the date of this release 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 risk factors described in the Company's Form 10K for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2016.

SOURCE Air Products

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