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 July 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. Notification dated 1 July 2003 in respect of the six monthly block
listing return for Savings Related Share Option Schemes and the
Executive Option Schemes.
2. Notification dated 14 July 2003 in respect of a strategic review of
Afrox Healthcare.
Page 1 of 7
3. Notification dated 31 July 2003 that The BOC Group plc will be
announcing its nine months results on Tuesday 5 August 2003.
Page 2 of 7
THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY
INFORMATION SERVICE AT 16.06 HRS ON 1 JULY 2003
UNDER REF NO PRNUK-0107031604-262A
SCHEDULE 5
BLOCK LISTING SIX MONTHLY RETURN
To: Listing Applications
UK Listing Authority
Financial Services Authority
25, The North Colonnade
Canary Wharf
London, E14 5HS
Please ensure the entries on this return are
type
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1. Name of company The BOC Group plc
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2. Name of scheme Savings-Related Share Option Scheme
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3. Period of return: From 1 January 2003 to 30 June 2003
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4. Number and class of share(s) (amount of stock/debt 6,513,994
security) not issued under scheme
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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5. Number of shares issued/allotted under scheme during 116,330
period:
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6. Balance under scheme not yet issued/allotted at end of 6,397,664
period
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7. Number and class of share(s) (amount of Listing granted on
stock/debt securities) originally listed 5 April 1978 for Ordinary
and the date of admission; shares of 25p each
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please confirm total number of shares in issue at the end of the period in order
for us to update our records 497,586,315 Ordinary shares of 25p each
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact for queries: Karen Weston Address: The BOC Group plc,
Chertsey Road,
Windlesham, Surrey, GU20 6HJ
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Name: Karen Weston Telephone: 01276 807388
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Person making return Name: Karen Weston
Position: Administration Assistant, Company Secretarial Department
Page 3 of 7
SCHEDULE 5
BLOCK LISTING SIX MONTHLY RETURN
To: Listing Applications
UK Listing Authority
Financial Services Authority
25, The North Colonnade
Canary Wharf
London, E14 5HS
Please ensure the entries on this return are type
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Name of company The BOC Group plc
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Name of scheme Executive Share Option Scheme
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Period of return: From 1 January 2003 to 30 June 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Number and class of share(s) (amount of stock/debt 11,802,137
security) not issued under scheme
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Number of shares issued/allotted under scheme 109,000
during period:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Balance under scheme not yet issued/allotted at end 11,693,137
of period
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Number and class of share(s) (amount of Listing granted on
stock/debt securities) originally listed 20 March 1985 for Ordinary
and the date of admission; shares of 25p each
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please confirm total number of shares in issue at the end of the period in order
for us to update our records 497,586,315 Ordinary shares of 25p each
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact for queries: Karen Weston Address: The BOC Group plc,
Chertsey Road,
Windlesham, Surrey, GU20 6HJ
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: Karen Weston Telephone: 01276 807388
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Person making return Name: Karen Weston
Position: Administration Assistant, Company Secretarial Department
Page 4 of 7
THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION
SERVICE AT 08.20 HRS ON 14 JULY 2003
UNDER REF. NO. PRNUK-1407030817-9735
Strategic review of Afrox Healthcare
Windlesham, UK, 14 July 2003 -- African Oxygen Limited ("Afrox") has today
issued a cautionary announcement to the JSE Securities Exchange. The
announcement observes that Afrox is in the process of considering its strategic
options with regard to its shareholding in Afrox Healthcare Limited. These
discussions may or may not lead to a change in the shareholding of Afrox in
Afrox Healthcare Limited.
Afrox Managing Director, Rick Hogben, says "Afrox Healthcare is a successful
business and has delivered good returns for Afrox but, as one would expect, the
board continually looks at the markets and businesses in which we operate.
"In terms of good corporate governance, the cautionary announcement was issued
to protect current and prospective investors in both Afrox and Afrox Healthcare
and is not an indication that any corporate action will necessarily flow from
the strategic review process.
"I also want to take this opportunity to assure all doctors and staff in Afrox
Healthcare that we are fully aware of their importance to the company and are
taking that into account in our deliberations."
Afrox Healthcare Limited is a majority-owned subsidiary of African Oxygen
Limited (Afrox), BOC's gases company based in South Africa. Both companies are
listed on the JSE Securities Exchange. The BOC Group owns approximately 56 per
cent of Afrox, which in turn owns some 69 per cent of Afrox Healthcare Limited.
BOC's economic interest in Afrox healthcare is therefore 39 per cent.
The BOC Group, which serves two million customers in more than 50 countries, is
one of the largest and most global of the world's leading gases companies. It
employs more than 46,000 people worldwide and had annual sales of over (pound)4
billion in 2002. Further information about The BOC Group may be obtained on the
Internet at http://www.boc.com
Contact: Christopher Marsay, Director - Investor Relations
Tel. 01276 477222 (International +44 1276 477222)
Page 5 of 7
THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE
ON 31 JULY 2003
AT 12.50 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-3107031248-AAB5
31 July 2003
The BOC Group plc
The BOC Group plc will be announcing its results for the nine months ended 30
June 2003 on Tuesday 5 August 2003.
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Contact: Christopher Marsay, Director - Investor Relations
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Tel: 01276 477222 (International +44 1276 477222)
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Page 6 of 7
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: August 1, 2003
By: /s/ David Kinnair
-------------------------------------
Name: David Kinnair
Title: Assistant Company Secretary
Page 7 of 7