This strategic decision will allow Air Products’ Industrial Gases and the Materials Technologies businesses to leverage their respective critical competencies and enhance their competitive positions. The company believes the result of the spin-off will be two best-in-class public companies with distinct business models, capital requirements and growth profiles.

“The intent to separate is consistent with our management philosophy and the five-point plan we have discussed on many occasions over the past year and emphasized at our Investor Conference. It will allow us to take another step in pursuit of our ultimate goal, to become the safest and most profitable industrial gas company in the world, providing excellent service to our customers,” said Ghasemi.

“The timing for this action is excellent and we look forward to the opportunity to operate as a stand-alone company focused on specialty materials. We already have a portfolio of world-class businesses with leading positions and sustainable competitive advantages in attractive niche markets. Our management team has demonstrated the ability to innovate, improve our underlying performance and rapidly respond to changing market dynamics to deliver profitable growth,” said Guillermo Novo, Executive Vice President – Materials Technologies.

Novo will be CEO of the yet-to-be-named company at the completion of the spin-off. Ghasemi will be the Non-executive Chairman of the new company, while maintaining his current roles as Chairman, President and CEO of Air Products.