SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a -16 or 15d -16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Report on Form 6-K for the month of December 2003
The BOC Group plc
Chertsey Road, Windlesham,
Surrey GU20 6HJ
England
(Name and address of registrant's principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F __X__ Form 40-F _____
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
Yes: |_| No: |X|
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
Yes: |_| No: |X|
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes: |_| No: |X|
Enclosures:
1. A notification dated 1 December 2003 advising of a settlement agreed
in respect of US Retirement Benefit Plan litigation.
2. A notification dated 10 December 2003 to advise that a copy of the
Company's Annual Report 2003 and associated documents, were available
at the UKLA Document Viewing Facility.
Page 1 of 10
3. A notification dated 11 December 2003 to advise that a copy of the
Company's Form 20-F 2003, was available at the UKLA Document Viewing
Facility.
4. A notification dated 16 December 2003, advising details of an exercise
and sale of shares by J L Walsh, a director of the Company, under The
BOC Group plc Executive Share Purchase Plan.
5. A notification dated 16 December 2003, advising details of an exercise
and sale of shares by R Medori, a director of the Company, under The
BOC Group plc Executive Share Purchase Plan.
Page 2 of 10
THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE
ON 1 DECEMBER 2003
AT 09.00 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-0112030847-BF69
1 December 2003
US Retirement Benefit Plan litigation
The BOC Group's preliminary results statement issued on 13 November 2003
included details of an action filed against The BOC Group Cash Balance
Retirement Plan (the Plan) in the US. The Plan was contesting the action and the
maximum potential liability was estimated at US$116 million. Subsequently the
parties have reached agreement in principle to settle at US$69 million.
The settlement will be paid out of Plan assets. A provision of US$69 million has
been made in the audited financial statements of the Group for the year ending
on 30 September 2003, which will be published in December. Under UK pension
accounting rules (FRS 17) this amount has been recognised in the Group's profit
and loss account and has been treated as an exceptional item.
--------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------
Contact: Christopher Marsay, Director - Investor Relations
--------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------
Tel: 01276 477222 (International +44 1276 477222)
--------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------
Page 3 of 10
THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE
ON 10 DECEMBER 2003
AT 17.15 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-1012031714-763D
10 December 2003
THE BOC GROUP plc - ANNUAL REPORT 2003
Copies of the Report and Accounts 2003, Annual Review and Summary Financial
Statements 2003, Notice of Annual General Meeting and Form of Proxy have been
submitted to the UK Listing Authority and will shortly be available for
inspection at the UK Listing Authority's Document Viewing Facility which is
situated at:
Financial Services Authority
25 The North Colonnade
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5HS
Tel.no. (0)20 7676 1000
Page 4 of 10
The BOC Group plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE AT
15.50 HRS ON 11 DECEMBER 2003 UNDER REF. NO. PRNUK-1112031545-0B30
11 December 2003
THE BOC GROUP plc - FORM 20-F 2003
A copy of the above document has been submitted to the UK Listing Authority and
will shortly be available for inspection at the UK Listing Authority's Document
Viewing Facility, which is situated at:
Financial Services Authority
25 The North Colonnade
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5HS
Tel.no. (0)20 7676 1000
Page 5 of 10
THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE AT
17.25 HRS ON 16 DECEMBER 2003
UNDER REF NO: PRNUK1612031724-8074
SCHEDULE 11
NOTIFICATION OF INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND CONNECTED PERSONS
All relevant boxes should be completed in block capital letters.
------ ---------------------------------------------- ---- ----------------------------------------------
1. Name of company 2. Name of director
------ ---------------------------------------------- ---- ----------------------------------------------
THE BOC GROUP plc JOHN LAWRENCE WALSH
------ ---------------------------------------------- ---- ----------------------------------------------
------ ---------------------------------------------- ---- ----------------------------------------------
3. Please state whether notification indicates 4. Name of the registered holder(s) and, if
that it is in respect of holding of the more than one holder, the number of shares
shareholder named in 2 above or in respect held by each of them (if notified)
of a non-beneficial interest or in the case
of an individual holder if it is a holding
of that person's spouse or children under
the age of 18 or in respect of a
non-beneficial interest
------ ---------------------------------------------- ---- ----------------------------------------------
IN RESPECT OF A HOLDING OF THE DIRECTOR IN 2 JOHN LAWRENCE WALSH
ABOVE
------ ---------------------------------------------- ---- ----------------------------------------------
------ ---------------------------------------------- ---- ----------------------------------------------
5. Please state whether notification relates to 6. Please state the nature of the transaction.
a person(s) connected with the director For PEP transactions please indicate whether
named in 2 above and identify the connected general/single co PEP and if
person(s) discretionary/non discretionary
------ ---------------------------------------------- ---- ----------------------------------------------
N/A EXERCISE AND SALE OF EXECUTIVE SHARE
PURCHASE PLAN
------ ---------------------------------------------- ---- ----------------------------------------------
------- -------------------- ----- ------------------ ----- -------------------- ----- ------------------
7. Number of 8. Percentage of 9. Number of 10. Percentage of
shares/amount of issued class shares/amount of issued class
stock acquired stock disposed
------- -------------------- ----- ------------------ ----- -------------------- ----- ------------------
10,896 LESS THAN 0.1% 6,000 LESS THAN 0.1%
------- -------------------- ----- ------------------ ----- -------------------- ----- ------------------
Page 6 of 10
-------- ------------------- ----- ------------------ ----- ------------------- ------ ------------------
11. Class of security 12. Price per share 13. Date of 14. Date company
transaction informed
-------- ------------------- ----- ------------------ ----- ------------------- ------ ------------------
ORDINARY SHARES EXERCISE: 677p 16 DECEMBER 2003 16 DECEMBER 2003
OF 25p EACH SALE: 824p
-------- ------------------- ----- ------------------ ----- ------------------- ------ ------------------
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
15. Total holding following this notification 16. Total percentage holding of issued class
following this notification
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
18,071 ORDINARY SHARES 0.11%
524,138 OPTIONS
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
If a director has been granted options by the company please complete the following boxes.
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
17. Date of grant 18. Period during which or date on which
options exercisable
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
N/A N/A
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
19. Total amount paid (if any) for grant of the 20. Description of shares or debentures
option involved: class, number
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
N/A N/A
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
21. Exercise price (if fixed at time of grant) 22. Total number of shares or debentures over
or indication that price is to be fixed at which options held following this
time of exercise notification
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
N/A N/A
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
23. Any additional information 24. Name of contact and telephone number for
queries
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
N/A KAREN WESTON 01276 807388
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
-------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
25. Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for making this notification
KAREN WESTON, ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT
DATE OF NOTIFICATION 16 DECEMBER 2003
-------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 7 of 10
THE BOC GROUP PLC ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE AT
17.21HRS ON 16 DECEMBER 2003
UNDER REF NO: PRNUK-1612031719-02E8
SCHEDULE 11
NOTIFICATION OF INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND CONNECTED PERSONS
All relevant boxes should be completed in block capital letters.
------ ---------------------------------------------- ---- ----------------------------------------------
1. Name of company 2. Name of director
------ ---------------------------------------------- ---- ----------------------------------------------
THE BOC GROUP PLC RENE MEDORI
------ ---------------------------------------------- ---- ----------------------------------------------
------ ---------------------------------------------- ---- ----------------------------------------------
3. Please state whether notification indicates 4. Name of the registered holder(s) and, if
that it is in respect of holding of the more than one holder, the number of shares
shareholder named in 2 above or in respect held by each of them (if notified)
of a non-beneficial interest or in the case
of an individual holder if it is a holding
of that person's spouse or children under
the age of 18 or in respect of a
non-beneficial interest
------ ---------------------------------------------- ---- ----------------------------------------------
IN RESPECT OF A HOLDING OF THE DIRECTOR IN 2 RENE MEDORI
ABOVE
------ ---------------------------------------------- ---- ----------------------------------------------
------ ---------------------------------------------- ---- ----------------------------------------------
5. Please state whether notification relates to 6. Please state the nature of the transaction.
a person(s) connected with the director For PEP transactions please indicate whether
named in 2 above and identify the connected general/single co PEP and if
person(s) discretionary/non discretionary
------ ---------------------------------------------- ---- ----------------------------------------------
N/A EXERCISE AND SALE OF EXECUTIVE SHARE
PURCHASE PLAN
------ ---------------------------------------------- ---- ----------------------------------------------
------- -------------------- ----- ------------------ ----- -------------------- ----- ------------------
7. Number of 8. Percentage of 9. Number of 10. Percentage of
shares/amount of issued class shares/amount of issued class
stock acquired stock disposed
------- -------------------- ----- ------------------ ----- -------------------- ----- ------------------
20,000 ORDINARY LESS THAN 0.1% 20,000 SHARES SOLD LESS THAN 0.1%
SHARES OF 25P EACH
------- -------------------- ----- ------------------ ----- -------------------- ----- ------------------
Page 8 of 10
-------- ------------------- ----- ------------------ ----- ------------------- ------ ------------------
11. Class of security 12. Price per share 13. Date of 14. Date company
transaction informed
-------- ------------------- ----- ------------------ ----- ------------------- ------ ------------------
ORDINARY SHARES EXERCISE: 677p 16 DECEMBER 2003 16 DECEMBER 2003
OF 25P EACH SALE: 824p
-------- ------------------- ----- ------------------ ----- ------------------- ------ ------------------
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
15. Total holding following this notification 16. Total percentage holding of issued class
following this notification
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
16,772 ORDINARY SHARES 0.1%
502,148 OPTIONS
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
If a director has been granted options by the company please complete the following boxes.
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
17. Date of grant 18. Period during which or date on which
options exercisable
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
N/A N/A
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
19. Total amount paid (if any) for grant of the 20. Description of shares or debentures
option involved: class, number
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
N/A N/A
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
21. Exercise price (if fixed at time of grant) 22. Total number of shares or debentures over
or indication that price is to be fixed at which options held following this
time of exercise notification
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
N/A N/A
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
23. Any additional information 24. Name of contact and telephone number for
queries
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
N/A KAREN WESTON 01276 807388
------- --------------------------------------------- ----- ---------------------------------------------
-------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
25. Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for making this notification
KAREN WESTON, ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT
Date of notification 16 DECEMBER 2003
-------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 9 of 10
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant, The BOC Group plc, has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date:January 2, 2004
By: /s/ Sarah Larkins
--------------------
Name: Sarah Larkins
Title: Assistant Company Secretary
Page 10 of 10