We began a productive, private dialogue with Air Products (APD, Financial) and its Board shortly after our July31, 2013 Schedule 13D filing and reached an agreement with the Company on September 24th.
As part of the agreement, John McGlade, Chairman and CEO, announced his plan to retire by June 30, 2014, and the Company committed to launch a CEO search promptly. Three new directors – Pershing Square Advisory Board member Matt Paull (former CFO of McDonald's), Seifi Ghasemi (Chairman and CEO of Rockwood Holdings and a former industrial gas executive at British Oxygen Corporation), and Edward Monser (President and Chief Operating Officer of Emerson Electric) will join the board replacing three retiring directors.
Matt Paull and Seifi Ghasemi will serve on the search committee along with four existing Air Products directors.We have high expectations for the future of Air Products and are delighted that we could come to an agreement with the Company promptly in light of John McGlade's and the board's collaborative approach.
From Bill Ackman's Pershing Square third quarter 2013 investor letter.
As part of the agreement, John McGlade, Chairman and CEO, announced his plan to retire by June 30, 2014, and the Company committed to launch a CEO search promptly. Three new directors – Pershing Square Advisory Board member Matt Paull (former CFO of McDonald's), Seifi Ghasemi (Chairman and CEO of Rockwood Holdings and a former industrial gas executive at British Oxygen Corporation), and Edward Monser (President and Chief Operating Officer of Emerson Electric) will join the board replacing three retiring directors.
Matt Paull and Seifi Ghasemi will serve on the search committee along with four existing Air Products directors.We have high expectations for the future of Air Products and are delighted that we could come to an agreement with the Company promptly in light of John McGlade's and the board's collaborative approach.
From Bill Ackman's Pershing Square third quarter 2013 investor letter.
