Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. - APD STOCK NEWS

Mantle Ridge LP, owning approximately $1.3 billion of Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE: APD) shares, is urging shareholders to vote for change at the upcoming January 23, 2025 Annual Meeting. All three leading proxy advisory firms - ISS, Glass Lewis, and Egan-Jones - have recommended replacing CEO Seifi Ghasemi and other board members with Mantle Ridge's proposed nominees.

The investment firm is proposing four shareholder nominees: Andrew Evans, Paul Hilal, Tracy McKibben, and Dennis Reilley. Their plan includes bringing in industrial gas industry veterans Eduardo Menezes and Dennis Reilley, former executives from Linde plc, described by analysts as a 'Dream Team' to lead Air Products. Multiple investment research firms, including Barclays, Wells Fargo, Deutsche Bank, and JP Morgan, have expressed support for the proposed changes.

Air Products (NYSE:APD) urges shareholders to vote 'FOR' only the company's nominees on the WHITE proxy card at the upcoming January 23, 2025 Annual Meeting. The Board has outlined a CEO succession plan with key commitments: announcing a new President by March 31, 2025, completing CEO transition within three months of joining, separating Chair and CEO roles, and Mr. Ghasemi's retirement from the Board.

The company reported strong preliminary fiscal Q1 2025 results with GAAP EPS of $2.77 and adjusted EPS of $2.86, exceeding guidance and analyst consensus. The Board opposes Mantle Ridge's campaign and their nominee Eduardo Menezes, citing his lack of public company CEO experience. With two new nominees, Bhavesh V. Patel and Alfred Stern, six out of nine Directors will have been elected in the last five years, demonstrating significant board refreshment.

Mantle Ridge LP, owning approximately $1.3 billion in Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE: APD) shares, has issued an open letter to shareholders ahead of the January 23, 2025 Annual Meeting. The firm is proposing four new director nominees - Andrew Evans, Paul Hilal, Tracy McKibben, and Dennis Reilley - while urging shareholders to withhold votes from current board members including CEO Seifi Ghasemi.

All three leading independent proxy advisory firms - ISS, Glass Lewis, and Egan-Jones - have recommended replacing CEO Ghasemi and other board members with Mantle Ridge's nominees. The activist investor suggests that with board refreshment and new CEO leadership, APD could be worth $425 per share and positioned to drive double-digit annual Total Shareholder Return.

Mantle Ridge emphasizes that their nominees bring relevant industry experience and expertise critical to Air Products' future, and would implement best-in-class governance while reassessing the company's compensation plan, strategy, and capital allocation.

Air Products (NYSE:APD) has released preliminary financial results for Q1 FY2025, reporting GAAP earnings per share of $2.77 and adjusted EPS of $2.86. The adjusted EPS performance notably exceeded the company's previous guidance range of $2.75 to $2.85 per share for the quarter.

The company plans to release complete Q1 FY2025 results and host a teleconference on February 6, 2025. Air Products notes that these preliminary figures are based on currently available information and may be subject to changes pending the completion of quarter-end close processes.

Air Products (NYSE: APD) has issued a letter to shareholders regarding its upcoming 2025 Annual Meeting, urging them to vote 'FOR' the company's nominees on the WHITE proxy card. The company strongly disagrees with ISS' opinion and presents two contrasting choices for shareholders:

1. Support Air Products' nominees to maintain stability, growth, and long-term value creation, including a planned CEO transition with a new President to be named by March 31.

2. Support Mantle Ridge's nominees, which the company warns could lead to growth and value destruction.

The company highlights its ongoing clean hydrogen strategy, including the NEOM project in Saudi Arabia and Darrow project in Louisiana. Air Products criticizes Mantle Ridge's nominees for lacking relevant experience and having no alternative plan, warning that their appointment could create significant instability in company leadership and strategic direction.

Mantle Ridge LP, holding approximately $1.3 billion of Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE: APD) shares, has issued an open letter to shareholders and employees addressing questions about its nomination of four director candidates to APD's Board of Directors. The investment firm is proposing Andrew Evans, Paul Hilal, Tracy McKibben, and Dennis Reilley as new board members.

The firm is urging shareholders to vote using the BLUE Proxy Card in favor of their nominees while withholding votes from current company nominees Charles Cogut, Lisa A. Davis, Seifollah Ghasemi, and Edward L. Monser. Mantle Ridge's nominees have committed to working constructively with Air Products' continuing directors if elected.

Air Products' (NYSE:APD) Board has issued a letter to shareholders ahead of its January 23, 2025 Annual Meeting, addressing claims made by activist investor Mantle Ridge. The Board defends against Mantle Ridge's assertions regarding board nominations, succession planning, and business strategy.

The company reveals its CEO succession plan is underway, with five prioritized candidates being assessed and an announcement expected by March 31, 2025. The Board criticizes Mantle Ridge's proposed candidate Eduardo Menezes as lacking necessary public company CEO experience.

Regarding clean hydrogen projects, Air Products highlights its strategic positioning with significant offtake agreements, including a 15-year agreement with TotalEnergies for 70,000 tpy of green hydrogen. The company reports strong financial performance with FY2024 Adjusted EBITDA margin of 41.7% and an 11% compound annual growth rate in Adjusted EPS between FY2014 and FY2024.

Mantle Ridge LP, holding approximately $1.3 billion of Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE: APD) shares, has issued a letter to shareholders advocating for board changes at the company's 2025 Annual Meeting. The investment firm is proposing four new director nominees - Andrew Evans, Paul Hilal, Tracy McKibben, and Dennis Reilley - while urging shareholders to withhold votes from current board members Charles Cogut, Lisa A. Davis, Seifollah Ghasemi, and Edward L. Monser.

The letter criticizes the incumbent directors for the company's underperformance over the past five years, citing issues with operational performance, capital allocation, project execution, management succession planning, compensation alignment, and board governance. Mantle Ridge is encouraging shareholders to vote using the BLUE proxy card in favor of their nominees to enhance the company's performance and create long-term shareholder value.

Air Products' (NYSE:APD) Board of Directors has issued a response to Mantle Ridge's shareholder letter, strongly opposing their proposed leadership changes. The Board criticizes Mantle Ridge's nominees, particularly Dennis Reilley for Chairman and Eduardo Menezes for CEO, citing concerns about their qualifications and experience.

The Board highlights that Reilley hasn't held a management position in 18 years and is alleged to have leaked confidential information from three public company boards. Menezes has never been a public company CEO and only managed one region at Linde. The Board also questions the credentials of other Mantle Ridge nominees, Tracy McKibben and Andrew Evans, comparing them unfavorably to Air Products' new independent director candidates.

The Board emphasizes that under current leadership, Air Products has created $44 billion of shareholder value and achieved an 11% Adjusted EPS CAGR since 2014. They have committed to announcing a new President and CEO succession timeline by March 31, 2025.