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 period from 15 February 2006 to 28 February 2006 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 15 February 2006 advising that UBS AG have a 4.99% interest in the issued Ordinary share capital of the Company. Page 1 of 18 2. A notification dated 16 February 2006 in accordance with Rule 2.10 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers confirming that at the close of business on 15 February 2006 the Company had 512,270,589 Ordinary shares in issue. 3. A notification dated 17 February 2006 in accordance with Rule 2.10 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers confirming that at the close of business on 16 February 2006 the Company had 512,380,107 Ordinary shares in issue. 4. A notification dated 17 February 2006 advising that UBS AG have a 5.08% interest in the issued Ordinary share capital of the Company. 5. A notification dated 17 February 2006 advising of a disposal by Ogier Trustee (Jersey) Limited, as trustee of The BOC Group plc Employee Share Trust (1995), of a total of 4,718 Ordinary shares in the Company in which the directors have a technical interest. 6. A notification dated 20 February 2006 advising of a disposal by Ogier Trustee (Jersey) Limited, as trustee of The BOC Group plc Employee Share Trust (1995), of a total of 30,872 Ordinary shares in the Company in which the directors have a technical interest. 7. A notification dated 21 February 2006 in accordance with Rule 2.10 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers confirming that at the close of business on 20 February 2006 the Company had 512,445,612 Ordinary shares in issue. 8. A notification dated 22 February 2006 in accordance with Rule 2.10 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers confirming that at the close of business on 21 February 2006 the Company had 512,578,429 Ordinary shares in issue. 9. A notification dated 22 February 2006 advising that UBS AG have a 4.83% interest in the issued Ordinary share capital of the Company. 10. A notification dated 22 February 2006 advising of a disposal by Ogier Trustee (Jersey) Limited, as trustee of The BOC Group plc Employee Share Trust (1995), of a total of 8,332 Ordinary shares in the Company in which the directors have a technical interest. 11. A notification dated 23 February 2006 in accordance with Rule 2.10 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers confirming that at the close of business on 22 February 2006 the Company had 512,609,257 Ordinary shares in issue. 12. A notification dated 24 February 2006 in accordance with Rule 2.10 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers confirming that at the close of business on 23 February 2006 the Company had 512,641,209 Ordinary shares in issue. 13. A notification dated 24 February 2006 advising of a disposal by Ogier Trustee (Jersey) Limited, as trustee of The BOC Group plc Employee Share Trust (1995), of a total of 11,403 Ordinary shares in the Company in which the directors have a technical interest. 14. A notification dated 27 February 2006 in accordance with Rule 2.10 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers confirming that at the close of business on 24 February 2006 the Company had 512,668,241 Ordinary shares in issue. 15. A notification dated 28 February 2006 in accordance with Rule 2.10 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers confirming that at the close of business on 27 February 2006 the Company had 512,675,491 Ordinary shares in issue. Page 2 of 18 THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE ON 15 FEBRUARY 2006 AT 17.11 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-1502061709-1AAD SCHEDULE 10 NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES All relevant boxes should be completed in block capital letters. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Name of company 2. Name of shareholder having a major interest --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE BOC GROUP plc UBS AG --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Please state whether notification indicates that it is 4. Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, in respect of holding of the shareholder named in 2 the number of shares held by each of them above or in respect 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTIFICATION IN RESPECT OF A PARTY UBS AG LONDON BRANCH - 24,232,428 NAMED IN 2 ABOVE UBS GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LIFE LTD - 1,308,936 UBS SECURITIES LLC - 316 UBS FINANCIAL SERVICES INC - 26,040 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Number of 6. Percentage of issued 7. Number of shares/amount 8. Percentage of issued class shares/amount of stock class of stock disposed acquired --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. Class of security 10. Date of transaction 11. Date company informed --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ORDINARY SHARES OF 25P EACH 14 FEBRUARY 2006 15 FEBRUARY 2006 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. Total holding following this notification 13. Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25,567,720 4.99% --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14. Any additional information 15. Name of contact and telephone number for queries --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IN A LETTER DATED 15 FEBRUARY 2006, THE CAROL HUNT BOC GROUP plc HAS BEEN ADVISED THAT UBS DEPUTY COMPANY SECRETARY AG HOLDS A 4.99% (PREVIOUSLY 5.20%) 01276 807759 INTEREST IN THE ORDINARY SHARE CAPITAL OF THE COMPANY. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16. Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for making this notification --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CAROL HUNT --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of notification 15 FEBRUARY 2006 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 3 of 18 THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE ON 16 FEBRUARY 2006 AT 07.13 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-1602060712-7259 16 February 2006 The BOC Group plc RULE 2.10 ANNOUNCEMENT The BOC Group plc ("BOC") announces, in accordance with Rule 2.10 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, that as at the close of business on 15 February 2006 it had in issue 512,270,589 (including those represented by ADSs) ordinary shares of 25 pence each ("BOC Shares"). The ISIN reference number for the BOC Shares is GB0001081206 and for the American Depositary Shares of BOC is CUSIP055617609. Each American Depositary Share of BOC represents two BOC Shares. Contacts: The BOC Group plc Christopher Marsay, Director Investor Relations 01276 477222 The Maitland Consultancy Neil Bennett 0207 379 5151 Page 4 of 18 THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE ON 17 FEBRUARY 2006 AT 07.20 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-1702060652-9C1E 17 February 2006 The BOC Group plc RULE 2.10 ANNOUNCEMENT The BOC Group plc ("BOC") announces, in accordance with Rule 2.10 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, that as at the close of business on 16 February 2006 it had in issue 512,380,107 (including those represented by ADSs) ordinary shares of 25 pence each ("BOC Shares"). The ISIN reference number for the BOC Shares is GB0001081206 and for the American Depositary Shares of BOC is CUSIP055617609. Each American Depositary Share of BOC represents two BOC Shares. Contacts: The BOC Group plc Christopher Marsay, Director Investor Relations 01276 477222 The Maitland Consultancy Neil Bennett 0207 379 5151 Page 5 of 18 THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE ON 17 FEBRUARY 2006 AT 11.26 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-1702061116-B0AF SCHEDULE 10 NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES All relevant boxes should be completed in block capital letters. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Name of company 2. Name of shareholder having a major interest --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE BOC GROUP plc UBS AG --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Please state whether notification indicates that it is 4. Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, in respect of holding of the shareholder named in 2 the number of shares held by each of them above or in respect 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTIFICATION IN RESPECT OF A PARTY UBS AG LONDON BRANCH - 24,704,698 NAMED IN 2 ABOVE UBS GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LIFE LTD - 1,308,936 UBS SECURITIES LLC - 316 UBS FINANCIAL SERVICES INC - 26,040 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Number of 6. Percentage of issued 7. Number of shares/amount 8. Percentage of issued class shares/amount of stock class of stock disposed acquired --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. Class of security 10. Date of transaction 11. Date company informed --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ORDINARY SHARES OF 25P EACH 15 FEBRUARY 2006 17 FEBRUARY 2006 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. Total holding following this notification 13. Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26,039,990 5.08% --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14. Any additional information 15. Name of contact and telephone number for queries --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IN A LETTER DATED 16 FEBRUARY 2006, THE CAROL HUNT BOC GROUP plc HAS BEEN ADVISED THAT UBS DEPUTY COMPANY SECRETARY AG HOLDS A 5.08% (PREVIOUSLY 4.99%) 01276 807759 INTEREST IN THE ORDINARY SHARE CAPITAL OF THE COMPANY. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16. Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for making this notification --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CAROL HUNT --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of notification 17 FEBRUARY 2006 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 6 of 18 THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE ON 17 FEBRUARY 2006 AT 15.56 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-1702061550-BC1B 17 February 2006 THE BOC GROUP plc EMPLOYEE SHARE TRUST (1995) The BOC Group plc (the Company) has been notified of the following disposals: 16 February 2006 - 2,546 Ordinary shares of 25p each in the Company at an exercise price of 937p per share and 14,025 Ordinary shares of 25p each in the Company at nil cost per share 17 February 2006 - 2,172 Ordinary shares of 25p each in the Company at an exercise price of 873.25p per share by Ogier Trustee (Jersey) Limited (the Trustee) as trustee of The BOC Group plc Employee Share Trust (1995) (the Trust). These Ordinary shares have been transferred, following exercise of options, to participants in the Company's senior executive share incentive plans. Following this disposal of 18,743 Ordinary shares, the Trustee now holds 4,498,906 Ordinary shares. Each of the executive Directors of the Company is a potential beneficiary under the Trust and therefore for Companies Act purposes is regarded as interested in all of these 4,498,906 Ordinary shares. Despite this technical interest, each executive Director will only be entitled to receive Ordinary shares from the Trust in satisfaction of options granted to him in respect of these Ordinary shares. Page 7 of 18 THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE ON 20 FEBRUARY 2006 AT 16.28 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-2002061626-0004 20 February 2006 THE BOC GROUP plc EMPLOYEE SHARE TRUST (1995) The BOC Group plc (the Company) has been notified of the following disposals on 20 February 2006: 6,841 Ordinary shares of 25p each in the Company at an exercise price of 937p per share 24,031 Ordinary shares of 25p each in the Company at nil cost per share by Ogier Trustee (Jersey) Limited (the Trustee) as trustee of The BOC Group plc Employee Share Trust (1995) (the Trust). These Ordinary shares have been transferred, following exercise of options, to participants in the Company's senior executive share incentive plans. Following this disposal of 30,872 Ordinary shares, the Trustee now holds 4,468,034 Ordinary shares. Each of the executive Directors of the Company is a potential beneficiary under the Trust and therefore for Companies Act purposes is regarded as interested in all of these 4,468,034 Ordinary shares. Despite this technical interest, each executive Director will only be entitled to receive Ordinary shares from the Trust in satisfaction of options granted to him in respect of these Ordinary shares. Page 8 of 18 THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE ON 21 FEBRUARY 2006 AT 07.01 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-2102060652-907A 21 February 2006 The BOC Group plc RULE 2.10 ANNOUNCEMENT The BOC Group plc ("BOC") announces, in accordance with Rule 2.10 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, that as at the close of business on 20 February 2006 it had in issue 512,445,612 (including those represented by ADSs) ordinary shares of 25 pence each ("BOC Shares"). The ISIN reference number for the BOC Shares is GB0001081206 and for the American Depositary Shares of BOC is CUSIP055617609. Each American Depositary Share of BOC represents two BOC Shares. Contacts: The BOC Group plc Christopher Marsay, Director Investor Relations 01276 477222 The Maitland Consultancy Neil Bennett 0207 379 5151 Page 9 of 18 THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE ON 22 FEBRUARY 2006 AT 07.01 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-2202060652-95BF 22 February 2006 The BOC Group plc RULE 2.10 ANNOUNCEMENT The BOC Group plc ("BOC") announces, in accordance with Rule 2.10 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, that as at the close of business on 21 February 2006 it had in issue 512,578,429 (including those represented by ADSs) ordinary shares of 25 pence each ("BOC Shares"). The ISIN reference number for the BOC Shares is GB0001081206 and for the American Depositary Shares of BOC is CUSIP055617609. Each American Depositary Share of BOC represents two BOC Shares. Contacts: The BOC Group plc Christopher Marsay, Director Investor Relations 01276 477222 The Maitland Consultancy Neil Bennett 0207 379 5151 Page 10 of 18 THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE ON 22 FEBRUARY 2006 AT 17.23 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-2202061719-E911 SCHEDULE 10 NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES All relevant boxes should be completed in block capital letters. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Name of company 2. Name of shareholder having a major interest --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE BOC GROUP plc UBS AG --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Please state whether notification indicates that it is in 4. Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, respect of holding of the shareholder named in 2 the number of shares held by each of them above or in respect 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTIFICATION IN RESPECT OF A PARTY UBS AG LONDON BRANCH - 23,428,329 NAMED IN 2 ABOVE UBS GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LIFE LTD - 1,308,936 UBS FINANCIAL SERVICES INC - 26,040 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Number of 6. Percentage of issued 7. Number of shares/amount 8. Percentage of issued class shares/amount of stock class of stock disposed acquired --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. Class of security 10. Date of transaction 11. Date company informed --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ORDINARY SHARES OF 25P EACH 20 FEBRUARY 2006 22 FEBRUARY 2006 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. Total holding following this notification 13. Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24,763,305 4.83% --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14. Any additional information 15. Name of contact and telephone number for queries --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IN A LETTER DATED 21 FEBRUARY 2006, THE CAROL HUNT BOC GROUP plc HAS BEEN ADVISED THAT UBS DEPUTY COMPANY SECRETARY AG HOLDS A 4.83% (PREVIOUSLY 5.08%) 01276 807759 INTEREST IN THE ORDINARY SHARE CAPITAL OF THE COMPANY. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16. Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for making this notification --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CAROL HUNT --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of notification 22 FEBRUARY 2006 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 11 of 18 THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE ON 22 FEBRUARY 2006 AT 17.25 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-2202061723-5E79 22 February 2006 THE BOC GROUP plc EMPLOYEE SHARE TRUST (1995) The BOC Group plc (the Company) has been notified of the disposal on 22 February 2006 of 8,332 Ordinary shares of 25p each in the Company at nil cost per share by Ogier Trustee (Jersey) Limited (the Trustee) as trustee of The BOC Group plc Employee Share Trust (1995) (the Trust). These Ordinary shares have been transferred, following exercise of options, to participants in the Company's senior executive share incentive plans. Following this disposal of 8,332 Ordinary shares, the Trustee now holds 4,459,702 Ordinary shares. Each of the executive Directors of the Company is a potential beneficiary under the Trust and therefore for Companies Act purposes is regarded as interested in all of these 4,459,702 Ordinary shares. Despite this technical interest, each executive Director will only be entitled to receive Ordinary shares from the Trust in satisfaction of options granted to him in respect of these Ordinary shares. Page 12 of 18 THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE ON 23 FEBRUARY 2006 AT 07.01 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-2302060651-697E 23 February 2006 The BOC Group plc RULE 2.10 ANNOUNCEMENT The BOC Group plc ("BOC") announces, in accordance with Rule 2.10 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, that as at the close of business on 22 February 2006 it had in issue 512,609,257 (including those represented by ADSs) ordinary shares of 25 pence each ("BOC Shares"). The ISIN reference number for the BOC Shares is GB0001081206 and for the American Depositary Shares of BOC is CUSIP055617609. Each American Depositary Share of BOC represents two BOC Shares. Contacts: The BOC Group plc Christopher Marsay, Director Investor Relations 01276 477222 The Maitland Consultancy Neil Bennett 0207 379 5151 Page 13 of 18 THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE ON 24 FEBRUARY 2006 AT 07.00 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-2402060652-821C 24 February 2006 The BOC Group plc RULE 2.10 ANNOUNCEMENT The BOC Group plc ("BOC") announces, in accordance with Rule 2.10 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, that as at the close of business on 23 February 2006 it had in issue 512,641,209 (including those represented by ADSs) ordinary shares of 25 pence each ("BOC Shares"). The ISIN reference number for the BOC Shares is GB0001081206 and for the American Depositary Shares of BOC is CUSIP055617609. Each American Depositary Share of BOC represents two BOC Shares. Contacts: The BOC Group plc Christopher Marsay, Director Investor Relations 01276 477222 The Maitland Consultancy Neil Bennett 0207 379 5151 Page 14 of 18 THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE ON 24 FEBRUARY 2006 AT 16.27 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-2402061625-0F50 24 February 2006 THE BOC GROUP plc EMPLOYEE SHARE TRUST (1995) The BOC Group plc (the Company) has been notified of the disposal on 24 February 2006 of 11,403 Ordinary shares of 25p each in the Company at nil cost per share by Ogier Trustee (Jersey) Limited (the Trustee) as trustee of The BOC Group plc Employee Share Trust (1995) (the Trust). These Ordinary shares have been transferred, following exercise of options, to participants in the Company's senior executive share incentive plans. Following this disposal of 11,403 Ordinary shares, the Trustee now holds 4,448,299 Ordinary shares. Each of the executive Directors of the Company is a potential beneficiary under the Trust and therefore for Companies Act purposes is regarded as interested in all of these 4,448,299 Ordinary shares. Despite this technical interest, each executive Director will only be entitled to receive Ordinary shares from the Trust in satisfaction of options granted to him in respect of these Ordinary shares. Page 15 of 18 THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE ON 27 FEBRUARY 2006 AT 07.00 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-2702060651-79C7 27 February 2006 The BOC Group plc RULE 2.10 ANNOUNCEMENT The BOC Group plc ("BOC") announces, in accordance with Rule 2.10 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, that as at the close of business on 24 February 2006 it had in issue 512,668,241 (including those represented by ADSs) ordinary shares of 25 pence each ("BOC Shares"). The ISIN reference number for the BOC Shares is GB0001081206 and for the American Depositary Shares of BOC is CUSIP055617609. Each American Depositary Share of BOC represents two BOC Shares. Contacts: The BOC Group plc Christopher Marsay, Director Investor Relations 01276 477222 The Maitland Consultancy Neil Bennett 0207 379 5151 Page 16 of 18 THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE ON 28 FEBRUARY 2006 AT 07.03 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-2802060651-7D47 28 February 2006 The BOC Group plc RULE 2.10 ANNOUNCEMENT The BOC Group plc ("BOC") announces, in accordance with Rule 2.10 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, that as at the close of business on 27 February 2006 it had in issue 512,675,491 (including those represented by ADSs) ordinary shares of 25 pence each ("BOC Shares"). The ISIN reference number for the BOC Shares is GB0001081206 and for the American Depositary Shares of BOC is CUSIP055617609. Each American Depositary Share of BOC represents two BOC Shares. Contacts: The BOC Group plc Christopher Marsay, Director Investor Relations 01276 477222 The Maitland Consultancy Neil Bennett 0207 379 5151 Page 17 of 18 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: 1 March 2006 By: /s/ Carol Hunt ------------------------------------ Name: Carol Hunt Title: Deputy Company Secretary Page 18 of 18