Macy*s and BOC Celebrate Decade-Long Partnership; Industrial Gases Supplier Pumps up Chicken Little, SpongeBob and Many Others So They Can Fly High above the City.

MURRAY HILL, N.J. -- BOC (NYSE: BOX), one of the world's largest helium marketers, and Macy*s, America's department store, celebrate a unique partnership this November - 10 consecutive years of making children of all ages smile at the Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade(R).

Over the past decade, BOC has been the sole provider of helium to inflate the balloons that soar over the streets of New York City in celebration of America's roots. This is Macy*s 78th year producing the event.

Dave Sterrett, helium account manager, BOC, says, "BOC and Macy*s have had a very successful partnership. We are fortunate to be able to work with such a recognized institution and to help improve the parade year after year for everyone's enjoyment. We hope to be able to work together for many more years."

Without the 400,000 cubic feet of helium that is trucked to New York from Otis, Kan. - enough to fill 500,000, 12-inch party balloons - the giant Garfield or Big Bird Parade balloons would not stand tall to capture the spirit of the holiday.

"BOC's services are key to making our event a success. It is with helium that our signature giant character balloons come to life," said Robin Hall, executive producer of Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Helium's Journey

Helium used to fill the breathtaking balloons floating over New York City in the Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade has a high-profile journey from the heartland.

Crude helium is transported via pipeline from its sources in Kansas and Texas, to BOC's helium production facility in Otis, Kansas. After the helium is purified and liquefied, it is filled into 11,000-gallon tankers and trucked across the country to a BOC plant in Middlesex, New Jersey.

From there, liquid helium is run through a vaporizer and compressed into high-pressure tube trailers a day or two before the parade. The shiny white tube trailers glisten as they travel from central New Jersey to New York City, catching the eye of passing motorists. First class is the only way to travel for this noble gas.

On the day before the Parade, BOC and Macy*s staff assemble near the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan, where workers begin inflating the balloons using gas filling apparatus that BOC has customized for the Macy*s Parade. Early Thanksgiving morning, the balloons are topped off with helium and poised for the parade.

This year, 15 giant helium balloons, 20 novelty balloons and 27 fabulous floats will make the annual 2.5 mile trek down the streets of New York City on Parade day. With over 45 million viewers across the country and 2.5 million spectators that line up along the streets of New York City each year, the Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a national icon that has grown into a world-famous holiday event that marks the official start of the holiday season.

The BOC Group (NYSE:BOX), the worldwide industrial gases, vacuum technologies and distribution services company, serves two million customers in more than 50 countries. It employs 44,500 people and had annual sales of over $7 billion in 2003. Further information about The BOC Group may be obtained on the Internet at http://www.boc.com