Form 11-K
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 11-K

 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                  to                 

Commission File Number 1-11037

 

A. Full title of the Plan and the address of the Plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:

The Savings Program for Employees of Praxair Puerto Rico B.V. and

Its Participating Subsidiary Companies

P.O. Box 307

Gurabo, Puerto Rico 00778

 

B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the Plan and the address of its principal executive office:

Praxair, Inc.

39 Old Ridgebury Road

Danbury, Connecticut 06810-5113

 

 

 


Table of Contents

The Savings Program for Employees of Praxair Puerto Rico B.V. and

Its Participating Subsidiary Companies

Index

 

      Page  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     3   

Financial Statements

  

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of December 31, 2010 and 2009

     4   

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the Year Ended December 31, 2010

     5   

Notes to Financial Statements

     6-12   

Supplemental Schedule

  

Schedule H, line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) as of December 31, 2010

     13   

Signature

     14   

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

     15   

All other schedules required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) have been omitted because they are not applicable.


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Participants and Administrator of

The Savings Program for Employees of Praxair Puerto Rico B.V. and

Its Participating Subsidiary Companies

Gurabo, Puerto Rico

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Savings Program for Employees of Praxair Puerto Rico B.V. and Its Participating Subsidiary Companies (the “Plan”) as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2010. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2010 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming opinions on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The accompanying supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2010, is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements, but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.

/s/ BDO USA, LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

May 27, 2011

 

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The Savings Program for Employees of Praxair Puerto Rico B.V. and Its

Participating Subsidiary Companies

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits

As of December 31, 2010 and 2009

 

 

     December 31,  
     2010      2009  

Assets:

     

Investments, at fair value (Note 4 and 5):

   $ 5,197,991       $ 4,388,634   

Receivables:

     

Employer contributions

     885         821   

Participant contributions

     1,951         1,771   

Dividends & interest

     2         5   

Notes receivable from participants

     348,187         397,663   
                 

Total receivables

     351,025         400,260   
                 

Net Assets Available for Benefits

   $ 5,549,016       $ 4,788,894   
                 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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The Savings Program for Employees of Praxair Puerto Rico B.V. and Its Participating Subsidiary Companies

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

For the Year Ended December 31, 2010

 

 

Additions to (Deductions from) Net Assets

  

Contributions:

  

Participants

   $ 195,259   

Employer

     86,218   
        

Total contributions

     281,477   
        

Investment income:

  

Net appreciation in fair value of investments (Note 4)

     659,798   

Interest and dividends

     116,313   
        

Total net investment income

     776,111   
        

Interest on participant notes receivable

     33,946   
        

Benefit payments

     (331,412
        

Increase in Net Assets

     760,122   

Net Assets Available for Benefits

  

Beginning of year

     4,788,894   
        

End of year

   $ 5,549,016   
        

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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The Savings Program for Employees of Praxair Puerto Rico B.V. and Its Participating Subsidiary Companies

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2010 and 2009

 

Note 1 - Inception of the Plan

The Savings Program for Employees of Praxair Puerto Rico B.V. and Its Participating Subsidiary Companies (the “Plan”) was established on March 1, 1995 by Praxair Puerto Rico B.V. (the “Company”).

Note 2 - Description of the Plan

The Plan is a tax-qualified retirement plan. The following is a general description of the Plan. Participants should refer to the Plan document for a complete description of the Plan’s provisions.

General

The Plan is a defined contribution plan and is administered by the Administrative Committee of The Savings Program for Employees of Praxair Puerto Rico B.V. and Its Participating Subsidiary Companies (the “Administrator”). The Trustee and recordkeeper of the Plan’s assets is Banco Popular de Puerto Rico. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”).

Eligibility

An employee of the Company is eligible to participate in the Plan if he or she is a minimum of 18 years of age and has completed 90 days of service.

Contributions

Participant contributions to the Plan are made through payroll deductions. Plan participants generally may elect to contribute a percentage of their eligible compensation on either a before-tax and/or after-tax basis. Participants’ before-tax contributions are limited to an annual statutory amount, which amounted to $9,000 in 2010 and 2009.

Participants who reach age 50 by the close of the Plan year are eligible to make catch-up contributions. Catch-up contributions are limited to $1,000 per Plan year (or such other limit as may be imposed through amendment to the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code of 1994 (“PRIRC”)). No matching contributions will be made with respect to such catch up contributions.

The Plan provides for a Company matching contribution equal to 70% of the first 2.5% of a participant’s eligible compensation contributed to the Plan and 40% of the next 2.51% to 7.5% of the participant’s eligible compensation contributed to the Plan. Company matching contributions to the Plan are made in cash and are invested in accordance with each participant’s investment direction.

Plan participants are permitted to direct the investments of their account balance among any available investment options under the Plan.

Vesting

Employees are fully vested at all times in their own contributions, company matching contributions, and rollover contributions. In the event of termination of employment from the Company, Plan participants receive all amounts credited to their accounts.

 

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The Savings Program for Employees of Praxair Puerto Rico B.V. and Its Participating Subsidiary Companies

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2010 and 2009

 

 

Investment Options

Plan participants may direct the investment of their Plan accounts among various investment options offered by the Plan listed below:

Mutual funds

Cash equivalents

Praxair, Inc. common stock

Participants may change the investment direction of their contributions and existing balances at any time.

Withdrawals and Distributions

Plan participants may withdraw after-tax contributions from their account balances while working and, in limited cases (as defined in the Plan’s provisions), may withdraw before-tax contributions. Mandatory distributions from the Plan are required starting no later than April 1 of the year following the year in which a participant attains age 70 1/2 or retires from service with the Company, whichever is later. Optional distributions may begin at 59 1/2.

Loans

The Plan generally permits participants to borrow from their accounts up to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of their vested account balances. Certain other restrictions apply, as defined in the Plan’s provisions. Participants are permitted to have only one loan outstanding at any time.

Loans are repaid during fixed terms not to exceed five years (thirty years if used to purchase a primary residence). Principal and interest is paid ratably through payroll deductions. The loans are collateralized by the balance in the participant’s account and bear interest at a fixed rate since Plan inception of 9%.

Loans to participants are carried at unpaid principal balance plus accrued but unpaid interest.

Unclaimed Benefits and Forfeitures

The benefit payable on behalf of a participant who cannot be located by the Administrator is forfeited at such time as the Administrator has made the determination. However, the forfeiture will be restored to the Plan by the Administrator if such participant subsequently makes a valid claim for the benefit.

Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Method of Accounting

The financial statements of the Plan are prepared under the accrual method of accounting.

 

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The Savings Program for Employees of Praxair Puerto Rico B.V. and Its Participating Subsidiary Companies

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2010 and 2009

 

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The following standards were effective for the Plan in 2010:

 

   

Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements – In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2010-06, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (ASC Topic 820) — Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements”. The standard added new requirements for disclosures about transfers into and out of Levels 1 and 2 and clarified existing fair value disclosures about the level of disaggregation and about inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The portion of this standard related to these items was effective for the Plan in 2010 and its adoption did not have a significant impact on the financial statements. In addition, the standard added requirements for separate disclosures about the activity relating to Level 3 fair value measurements effective for the Plan on January 1, 2011. See Note 5 for the required disclosures.

 

   

Reporting Loans to Participants – In September 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-25, “Reporting Loans to Participants by Defined Contribution Pension Plans” (ASC 962), which is effective for the Plan in 2010. This ASU requires participant loans to be classified as notes receivable from participants, which are segregated from plan investments and measured at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. The guidance is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2010. In accordance with the transition provisions, prior years’ presentation and disclosures have been retrospectively adjusted to conform to the new standard.

Reclassification

Participant loans previously reported as a component of investments have been reclassified to a component of receivables in order to conform to the current year presentation.

Payment of Benefits

Benefits are recorded when paid.

Participants’ Account Activity

Participant accounts are credited with participant and Company contributions and an allocation of Plan earnings, which is based on participant account balances. Participant accounts are charged for withdrawals.

Investment Valuation and Income Recognition

Plan investments are reported at fair value which is determined based upon quoted market prices or using observable market based inputs, other than quoted market prices, for similar investments. Funds are valued on a daily basis. Shares of mutual funds are valued at the net asset value of shares held by the Plan at year-end.

Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

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The Savings Program for Employees of Praxair Puerto Rico B.V. and Its Participating Subsidiary Companies

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2010 and 2009

 

 

The Plan presents in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits, the net appreciation (depreciation) in the fair value of its investments, which consists of the realized gains or losses and the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on those investments.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Risks and Uncertainties

The Plan provides for various investment options that invest in any combination of stocks, bonds, and fixed income securities and other investment securities. These investment securities are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, market and credit risks. Due to the level of risk and uncertainty associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits.

Note 4 - Investments

Individual investments held by the Plan that exceed five percent or more of the Plan’s net assets available for benefits at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, are noted below:

 

     2010      2009  

Praxair, Inc. common stock

   $ 3,876,941       $ 3,256,811   

Eaton Vance Large Cap Value Fund

     331,964         290,709   

PIMCO Total Return Admin Fund

     298,095         305,382   

During 2010, the Plan’s investments (including gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as held during the year) appreciated in value as follows:

 

     Year ended
December 31, 2010
 

Praxair, Inc. common stock

   $ 597,526   

Mutual funds

     62,272   
        
   $ 659,798   
        

Note 5 - Fair Value Measurements

The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value in three broad levels as follows:

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities

Level 2 – quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable

 

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The Savings Program for Employees of Praxair Puerto Rico B.V. and Its Participating Subsidiary Companies

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2010 and 2009

 

 

Level 3 – inputs that are unobservable (for example cash flow modeling inputs based on assumptions)

The following tables summarize investment assets measured at fair value at December 31, 2010 and 2009:

 

     Investment Assets at Fair Value at December 31,  2010         
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Mutual funds:

           

Large-Cap

   $ 627,907       $ —         $ —         $ 627,907   

Mid-Cap

     7,734         —           —           7,734   

Small-Cap

     25,570         —           —           25,570   

Balanced

     74,821         —           —           74,821   

Domestic bond fund

     327,705         —           —           327,705   

Praxair, Inc. common stock

     3,876,941         —           —           3,876,941   

Cash and cash equivalents

     257,313         —           —           257,313   
                                   

Total

   $ 5,197,991       $ —         $ —         $ 5,197,991   
                                   
     Investment Assets at Fair Value at December 31, 2009         
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Mutual funds:

           

Large-Cap

   $ 540,104       $ —         $ —         $ 540,104   

Mid-Cap

     5,088         —           —           5,088   

Small-Cap

     18,753         —           —           18,753   

Balanced

     49,554         —           —           49,554   

Domestic bond fund

     338,280         —           —           338,280   

Praxair, Inc. common stock

     3,256,811         —           —           3,256,811   

Cash and cash equivalents

     180,044         —           —           180,044   
                                   

Total

   $ 4,388,634       $ —         $ —         $ 4,388,634   
                                   

There are no plan liabilities required to be recorded at fair value at December 31, 2010 and 2009.

The following is a description of the valuation methodologies for the Plan assets measured at fair value. There have been no changes to the methodologies used at December 31, 2010 and 2009.

Mutual FundsLarge Cap – This class primarily consists of publicly traded funds of registered investment companies. The mutual funds invest primarily in marketable equity securities with companies that have large market capitalization. The fair value of these investments is determined by reference to the fair value of the underlying securities of the mutual funds. The net asset value of the mutual fund’s shares is quoted on the exchange where the fund is traded and therefore classified as Level 1 within the valuation hierarchy.

Mutual FundsMid-Cap – This class primarily consists of publicly traded funds of registered investment companies. The mutual funds invest primarily in marketable equity securities with companies that have moderate market capitalization. The fair value of these investments is determined by reference to the fair value of the underlying securities of the mutual funds. The net asset value of

 

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The Savings Program for Employees of Praxair Puerto Rico B.V. and Its Participating Subsidiary Companies

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2010 and 2009

 

 

the mutual fund’s shares is quoted on the exchange where the fund is traded and therefore classified as Level 1 within the valuation hierarchy.

Mutual Funds – Small-Cap – This class primarily consists of publicly traded funds of registered investment companies. The mutual funds invest primarily in marketable equity securities with companies that have small market capitalization. The fair value of these investments is determined by reference to the fair value of the underlying securities of the mutual funds. The net asset value of the mutual fund’s shares is quoted on the exchange where the fund is traded and therefore classified as Level 1 within the valuation hierarchy.

Mutual Funds – Balanced – This class primarily consists of publicly traded funds of registered investment companies. The mutual funds invest primarily in marketable equity and fixed income securities. The fair value of these investments is determined by reference to the fair value of the underlying securities of the mutual funds. The net asset value of the mutual fund’s shares is quoted on the exchange where the fund is traded and therefore classified as Level 1 within the valuation hierarchy.

Mutual FundsDomestic Bond Fund – This class primarily consists of publicly traded funds of registered investment companies. The mutual funds invest primarily in fixed income securities within the domestic market. The fair value of these investments is determined by reference to the fair value of the underlying securities of the mutual funds. The net asset value of the mutual fund’s shares is quoted on the exchange where the fund is traded and therefore classified as Level 1 within the valuation hierarchy.

Cash Equivalents – This class consists of short-term money market investments. Due to the short-term maturities of these investments, cash equivalents are valued at cost, which approximates fair value. Cash equivalents are classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Praxair, Inc. Common Stock – The Praxair, Inc. common stock class is valued at quoted market prices from a national securities exchange. The Praxair, Inc. common stock is classified as Level 1 within the valuation hierarchy.

Note 6 - Tax Status

The Plan qualifies under sections 1165(a), (e), and (g) of the PRIRC and complies with all applicable requirements of both Title I of ERISA and the PRIRC. Although the Plan has been amended since the date it was submitted to PR Treasury, the Plan administrator and the Plan’s tax counsel believe that in design and operation, it continues to operate in compliance with applicable law.

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America require Plan management to evaluate tax positions taken by the Plan and recognize a tax liability (or asset) if the Plan has taken an uncertain position that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination. The Administrator has analyzed the tax positions taken by the Plan, and has concluded that as of December 31, 2010, there are no uncertain positions taken or expected to be taken that would require recognition of a liability (or asset) or disclosure in the financial statements. The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress. The Administrator believes the Plan is no longer subject to income tax examinations for years prior to 2007.

Note 7 - Plan Expenses

 

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The Savings Program for Employees of Praxair Puerto Rico B.V. and Its Participating Subsidiary Companies

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2010 and 2009

 

 

Transfer taxes and other costs and expenses, if any, except administrative costs of the Company associated with the sale and transfer of Praxair common stock, are deducted from the sale proceeds or charged to the participant account (for purchases). For the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company paid all costs of Plan administration and expenses of collecting and distributing amounts from and to the participants. Amounts paid by the Company for Plan expenses during 2010 were insignificant.

Note 8 - Parties-in-Interest Transactions

Certain Plan investments are shares of mutual funds managed by Banco Popular de Puerto Rico. Banco Popular de Puerto Rico is the trustee as defined by the Plan and, therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions. Certain Plan investments include shares of common stock of Praxair, Inc., the Company’s parent company, therefore these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions.

Loans to participants also qualify as party-in-interest transactions.

Note 9 - Plan Termination

Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan’s provisions to terminate the Plan at its sole discretion. Upon such termination, the net assets of the Plan will be distributed or sold exclusively for the benefit of the participants (or their beneficiaries). Upon such termination, participants would remain 100% vested.

 

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The Savings Program for Employees of Praxair Puerto Rico B.V. and Its Participating Subsidiary Companies

EIN: 66-0605193, Plan Number: 001

Schedule H, line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)

as of December 31, 2010

 

 

(a)

  

(b)

Identity of issue, borrower, lessor or similar party

  

(c)

Description of investment including maturity date, rate of interest,

collateral, par or maturity value

   (d)
Cost
     (e)
Current value
 

*

   Praxair, Inc.    Common Stock      **       $ 3,876,941   
   Eaton Vance Large Cap Value Fund    Mutual Fund      **         331,964   
   PIMCO Total Return Fund Admin    Mutual Fund      **         298,095   
   Federated Investor Max-Cap Fund    Mutual Fund      **         274,779   
   Federated Government Obligations    Cash Equivalent      **         238,710   
   Price T Rowe Retirement 2030 Fund    Mutual Fund      **         38,439   
   Wells Fargo Advantage Government Sec Fund    Mutual Fund      **         29,610   
   Loomis Sayles Small Cap Value Fund    Mutual Fund      **         25,570   
   Price T Rowe Retirement 2010 Fund    Mutual Fund      **         24,401   
   Harbor Capital Appreciation Fund    Mutual Fund      **         21,164   

*

   Banco Popular Puerto Rico Time Deposit    Cash Equivalent      **         18,603   
   Price T Rowe Retirement 2040 Fund    Mutual Fund      **         8,391   
   Artio Intl Equity Fund A    Mutual Fund      **         7,734   
   Price T Rowe Retirement 2020 Fund    Mutual Fund      **         3,590   
                 
   Total investments, at fair value            5,197,991   

*

   Notes receivable from participants    Interest rate of 9%, various maturities      —           348,187   
                 
   Total investments and notes receivable from participants          $ 5,546,178   
                 

 

* Party-in-interest
** Cost information is not required for participant directed investments and therefore, is not included

 

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Signature

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Administrator of the Plan has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

The Savings Program for Employees of Praxair Puerto Rico B.V. and Its Participating Subsidiary Companies

 

Date: May 27, 2011     By:   /S/    ARMANDO BOTELLO      
      Armando Botello, Managing Director, Praxair Puerto
      Rico, Inc. and member of the Administrative
      Committee of The Savings Program for Employees
      of Praxair Puerto Rico B.V. and Its Participating
      Subsidiary Companies
      (On behalf of the Plan)

 

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CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Savings Program for Employees of Praxair Puerto Rico B.V. and Its Participating Subsidiary Companies

Gurabo, Puerto Rico

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Nos. 33-87274, 33-48478 and 333-81248) of our report dated May 27, 2011, relating to the financial statements and supplemental schedule of the Savings Program for Employees of Praxair Puerto Rico B.V. and Its Participating Subsidiary Companies appearing in this Form 11-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

/s/ BDO USA, LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

May 27, 2011

 

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