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, 2009

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:

Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

 

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

Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

Index

 

     Page

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   3

Financial Statements

  

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of December 31, 2009 and 2008

   4

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the Year Ended December 31, 2009

   5

Notes to Financial Statements

   6-13

Supplemental Financial Schedule

  

Schedule H, line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) as of December 31, 2009

   14

Signature

   15

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   16

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 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 Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

Danbury, CT

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of The Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (the “Plan”) as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2009. 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, 2009 and 2008, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2009 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, 2009, 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 Seidman, LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 28, 2010

 

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Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits

As of December 31, 2009 and 2008

 

 

     December 31,
     2009    2008

Assets:

     

Investments, at fair value (Note 5)

   $ 29,095,483    $ 23,721,700

Loans to participants

     1,623,804      1,464,228
             

Total investments

     30,719,287      25,185,928
             

Contributions receivable:

     

Participants

     21,606      14,795

Employer

     37,766      34,018
             

Total contributions receivable

     59,372      48,813
             

Total Assets

     30,778,659      25,234,741

Liabilities:

     

Accrued expenses

     3,963      10,054

Contribution Payable

     25,520      —  
             

Net Assets Available for Benefits at Fair Value

     30,749,176      25,224,687

Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts (Note 3)

     73,269      273,081
             

Net Assets Available for Benefits

   $ 30,822,445    $ 25,497,768
             

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

 

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Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

For the Year Ended December 31, 2009

 

 

Additions to (Deductions from) Net Assets

  

Contributions:

  

Participants

   $ 2,665,524   

Employer

     1,628,534   

Rollovers from other plans (Note 2)

     128,092   
        

Total contributions

     4,422,150   
        

Investment income:

  

Net appreciation in fair value of investments (Note 5)

     4,923,591   

Interest and dividends

     512,311   

Interest on participant loans

     70,181   
        

Total net investment income

     5,506,083   
        

Benefit payments to participants

     (4,356,151

Administrative expenses

     (103,181
        
     (4,459,332
        

Increase in Net Assets

     5,468,901   
        

Transfers from other plans (Note 9)

     12,920   

Transfers to other plans (Note 9)

     (157,144

Net Assets Available for Benefits

  

Beginning of year

     25,497,768   
        

End of year

   $ 30,822,445   
        

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 

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Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2009 and 2008

 

Note 1 - Inception of the Plan

Interwest Home Medical, Inc., the predecessor company to Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc. (the “Company”), established a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan on October 1, 1985. On July 1, 2002, that plan was adopted by the Company and renamed the Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (the “Plan”).

Note 2 - Description of the Plan

The following description of the Plan provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Plan document for a complete description of the Plan’s provisions. The following information may not apply to employees covered under a bargaining unit agreement. Employees that belong to a collective bargaining unit should refer to such agreement for the terms of its employee benefits.

General

The Plan is a defined contribution plan and is administered by the Administration and Investment Committee for the Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (the “Administrator”). The activities of the Administrator are overseen by the Board of Directors of the Company. The Trustee of the Plan’s assets is Fidelity Management Trust Company (“Fidelity”). The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”).

Eligibility

All regular full-time employees (as defined in the Plan) of the Company and any affiliates that have adopted the Plan, are eligible to participate in the Plan. Part-time employees (as defined in the Plan) of the Company and its participating affiliates are eligible to participate in the Plan following their completion of certain minimum service requirements as set forth in the Plan.

Contributions

Participant contributions to the Plan are made through payroll deductions. Contributions for all Plan participants are calculated as a percentage of compensation (as defined in the plan). Non-highly compensated employees (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”)) are allowed to contribute up to 40% of their eligible compensation on a before-tax or after-tax basis or a combination of both. Highly compensated employees (as defined in the Code) are allowed to contribute up to 20% of their compensation, of which 9% may be on a before-tax basis. The Plan must meet the actual deferral percentage tests in Section 401(k)(3)(A) of the Code. All participants’ before-tax contributions are limited, however, to an indexed annual amount prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), which amounted to $16,500 in 2009 and $15,500 in 2008. All employees who are eligible to make deferrals under the Plan and who have attained age 50 before the close of the Plan year, may elect to make additional “catch-up” contributions for the Plan year. The maximum catch-up contribution amount permitted under the Code was $5,500 and $5,000 in 2009 and 2008, respectively.

All newly hired eligible employees are automatically enrolled in the Plan at a pre-tax contribution rate of 4% of eligible compensation unless the employee affirmatively elects not to participate in the Plan or elects to participate at a different rate. Prior to being automatically enrolled in the Plan, each newly hired eligible employee will be provided a notice of the Plan’s automatic enrollment provisions and is given a period of time during which to opt out of Plan participation. Newly hired eligible employees may also voluntarily elect to enroll in the Plan with an effective date prior to the date they would otherwise be automatically enrolled and may elect a contribution rate other than 4% of eligible compensation.

 

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Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2009 and 2008

 

 

All participants, including those who are automatically enrolled, may change or suspend their level of Plan contributions at any time.

The Company makes matching contributions equal to 50% of the first 4% of compensation contributed by participants. The Company matching contributions are made in cash and invested in accordance with the participant’s investment directions.

In addition to the Company matching contributions described above, each pay period the Company makes a Company contribution on behalf of each eligible participant who has completed at least two years of service (as defined in the Plan) with the Company in an amount equal to 2% of the participant’s eligible compensation (as defined in the Plan) for such pay period.

Vesting

Participants are fully vested in their own contributions, Company contributions (other than Company matching contributions) and rollover contributions at all times. All participants become fully vested in Company matching contributions after completing three years of service. Unvested Company matching contributions are forfeited upon separation from the Company. Under the Plan’s provisions, forfeitures are used to offset Plan expenses or reduce future Company contributions.

Participants who were involuntarily terminated during the 2008 or 2009 Plan years due to the elimination of their position became fully vested in Company contributions made on their behalf regardless of completed years of service.

Investment Options

Plan participants may, subject to certain restrictions, direct the investment of their Plan accounts among various investment options offered by the Plan listed below.

Mutual funds

Common trusts

Praxair Common Stock Fund

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

Dividend Payout on Company Stock Funds

A portion of the Plan, consisting of the Praxair Common Stock Fund has been designated as an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”). A dividend payout feature allows participants to elect to receive any future dividends from the Praxair Common Stock Fund in cash as taxable distributions, rather than having such dividends reinvested in the Plan. The designation as an ESOP has no other effect on benefits under the Plan.

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 to begin 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. Actively employed participants may begin receiving distributions of pre-tax contributions at age 59 1/2.

 

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Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2009 and 2008

 

 

Loans

The Plan generally permits participants to borrow from their accounts a minimum of $1,000 up to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of their vested account balances. Participants are permitted to have two loans outstanding at any time. Certain other restrictions apply, as defined in the Plan’s provisions.

Loans are repaid during fixed terms not to exceed five years (thirty years for principal home loans). Principal and interest is paid ratably, generally through payroll deductions. The loans are collateralized by the balance in the participant’s account and bear interest at fixed rates determined at loan inception. The loan interest rate is set quarterly at a rate equal to 1% less than the prime rate. Interest rates on loans outstanding as of December 31, 2009, ranged from 2.25% to 10.00% with various dates of maturity through 2039. A loan application fee of $35 is charged to the participant’s account for each new loan.

Rollovers

Rollovers represent transfers of account balances of certain participant contributions into certain investments of the Plan from other qualified plans or individual retirement accounts.

Forfeitures

Under the Plan’s provisions, when Company contributions of non-vested participants are forfeited, the amount shall be applied at the Company’s discretion, to pay the Plan’s administrative expenses or reduce future Company contributions. Forfeited amounts of non-vested Company contributions totaled $147,186 and $188,052 in 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Method of Accounting

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

New Accounting Pronouncements

The following standards were effective for the Plan in 2009:

 

   

Fair Value Measurements – Two new standards were issued in 2009 related to fair value measurements. The first standard requires the Plan to adopt accounting guidance for determining fair value when the volume and level of activity for an asset or liability has significantly decreased and identifying transactions that are not orderly. The second accounting standard requires the Plan to disclose information about fair value measurements of investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value per share or its equivalent. See Note 6 for the required disclosures. The adoption of these standards did not have an impact on the Plan’s financial statements.

 

   

The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles – The Codification was effective July 1, 2009 at which point all then-existing non-SEC accounting and reporting standards have been superseded. As a result of the adoption of the Codification, the Company changed the way it references U.S. GAAP throughout the financial statements. This standard did not have an impact on the Plan’s financial statements.

 

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Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2009 and 2008

 

 

The following standard will be effective for the Plan in 2010 and 2011:

 

   

Disclosures of 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 will be effective for the Plan in 2010. In addition, the standard added requirements for separate disclosures about the activity relating to Level 3 fair value measurements. The portion of this standard related to these items will be effective for the Plan in 2011. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a significant impact on the Plan’s financial statements.

Payment of Benefits

Benefits are recorded when paid.

Participants’ Account Activity

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

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. The fair value per unit of investment in common trusts is determined by each fund’s trustee based on the fair value of the underlying securities within that fund. The relevant accounting standard for defined contribution plans defines the circumstances in which an investment contract is considered fully benefit-responsive and provides certain reporting and disclosure requirements for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts in defined contribution plans. As required by the standard, investments in the accompanying Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits include fully benefit-responsive investment contracts recognized at fair value with a corresponding adjustment to reflect these investments at contract value. The Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio II Class 3 Fund is stated at fair value in accordance with the provisions of the standard. Contract value represents contributions made plus earnings, less Plan withdrawals and administrative expenses. Loans to participants are carried at outstanding balances which approximates fair value.

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.

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.

 

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Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2009 and 2008

 

 

Risks and Uncertainties

The Plan provides for various investment options that invest in any combination of stocks, bonds, 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 Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits.

Note - 4 Reconciliation of Financial Statements to Form 5500

The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements at December 31, 2009 and 2008 to Form 5500:

 

     2009     2008  

Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements

   $ 30,822,445      $ 25,497,768   

Adjustments from fair to contract value for fully benefit-responsive contracts

     (73,269     (273,081
                

Net assets available for benefits per the Form 5500

   $ 30,749,176      $ 25,224,687   
                

The following is a reconciliation of the net investment income per the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 to the Form 5500:

 

     2009  

Total investment income per the financial statements

   $ 5,506,083   

Adjustments from fair to contract value for fully benefit-responsive contracts as of December 31, 2009

     (73,269

Adjustments from fair to contract value for fully benefit-responsive contracts as of December 31, 2008

     273,081   
        

Total investment income per the Form 5500

   $ 5,705,895   
        

Note 5 - Investments

Individual investments held by the Plan that exceed five percent of the Plan’s net assets available for benefits at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, are noted below:

 

     2009    2008

Fidelity MIP II Class 3 Fund (contract value - $5,904,924 and $7,002,469, respectively)

   $ 5,831,655    $ 6,729,388

Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund

     4,445,719      2,299,992

Praxair Common Stock Fund

     4,361,408      3,507,262

MSIFT U.S. Small Cap Core Value Portfolio

     2,378,652      1,788,326

Wellington TC Growth Portfolio

     1,892,393      1,476,963

Fidelity International Discovery Fund

     1,873,792      1,528,691

 

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Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2009 and 2008

 

 

The Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio (“MIP”) II Class 3 Fund, a commingled pool, is a stable value fund that may invest in investment contracts issued by insurance companies and other financial institutions, fixed income securities and money market funds and is presented in the financial statements at fair value and is adjusted to contract value because such investments are fully benefit-responsive investment contracts. Contract value represents contributions made under the contract, plus earnings, less participant withdrawals and administrative expenses. Participants may ordinarily direct the withdrawal or transfer of all or a portion of their investment at contract value during the term of the contract. There is no reserve against the contract value for credit risk of the contract issuer or otherwise. The investment contract and fixed income security commitments are backed solely by the financial resources of the issuer. If an event occurs that may impair the ability of the contract issuer to perform in accordance with the contract terms, fair value may be less than contract value. Certain events limit the ability of the Plan to transact at contract value with the issuer. Such events include the following: (i) amendments to the plan documents (including complete or partial termination or merger with another plan); (ii) bankruptcy of the Plan sponsor or other Plan sponsor events (e.g. divestitures or spin-offs of a subsidiary) which cause a significant withdrawal from the plan. The Plan Administrator does not believe that the occurrence of any such event, which would limit the Plan’s ability to transact at contract value with participants, is probable. The average yield based on actual earnings was approximately 3% at December 31, 2009 and 2008. The average yield based on interest credited to participants was approximately 2% and 4% at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. During 2009, 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, 2009

Mutual funds

   $ 3,212,031

Praxair Common Stock Fund

     1,161,012

Common trusts

     550,548
      
   $ 4,923,591
      

Note 6 - 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

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

 

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Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2009 and 2008

 

 

The following tables summarize investment assets measured at fair value at December 31, 2009 and 2008:

 

     Investment Assets at Fair Value at December 31, 2009     
     Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total

Mutual funds

   $ 16,721,991    $ —      —      $ 16,721,991

Praxair Common Stock Fund

     4,361,408      —      —        4,361,408

Common trusts

     —        8,012,084    —        8,012,084

Loans to participants

     —        1,623,804    —        1,623,804
                         

Total

   $ 21,083,399    $ 9,635,888    —      $ 30,719,287
                         

 

     Investment Assets at Fair Value at December 31, 2008     
     Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total

Mutual funds

   $ 11,822,457    $ —      —      $ 11,822,457

Praxair Common Stock Fund

     3,507,262      —      —        3,507,262

Common trusts

     —        8,391,981    —        8,391,981

Loans to participants

     —        1,464,228    —        1,464,228
                         

Total

   $ 15,329,719    $ 9,856,209    —      $ 25,185,928
                         

There are no plan liabilities required to be recorded at fair value at December 31, 2009 and 2008.

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, 2009 and 2008.

Mutual Funds – This category 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.

Common Trusts – This category consists of private funds that invest primarily in marketable equity and fixed income securities. The funds may also invest in insurance contracts and derivatives such as forwards, options and swaps. The net asset value of the common trusts is provided by the trustee and is determined by reference to the fair value of the underlying securities of the trust, which are valued primarily through the use of directly or indirectly observable inputs. Common trusts are classified as Level 2 within the valuation hierarchy.

Praxair Common Stock Fund – The Praxair Common Stock Fund is an employer stock unitized fund. The fund consists of Praxair, Inc. common stock and a short-term cash component, which provides liquidity for daily trading. Praxair, Inc. common stock is valued at the quoted market price from a national securities exchange and the short term cash investments are valued at cost, which approximates fair value. The Praxair Common Stock Fund is classified as Level 1 within the valuation hierarchy.

 

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Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2009 and 2008

 

 

Loans to Participants – Loans to participants are valued at cost, which approximates fair value. Loans to participants are classified as Level 2 within the valuation hierarchy.

Note 7 - Tax Status

The Internal Revenue Service determined and informed the Company by a letter dated January 12, 2004, that the Plan and related trust were designed in accordance with applicable sections of the Code. Although the Plan has been amended since the date it was submitted to the Internal Revenue Service, the Plan Administrator and counsel believe that in design and operation, it continues to operate in accordance with applicable law.

Note 8 - Plan Expenses

Administrative fees are paid by the Plan in accordance with Plan provisions and allocated to Plan participant accounts based upon account balances. Participants are charged an annual rate of 0.1% of their account balance on a monthly basis. These fees, which are accumulated and paid out of the Fidelity MIP II Class 3 Fund, are intended to cover all administrative expenses incurred by the Plan. To the extent deductions from participant accounts were insufficient to cover the total cost of the Plan, the difference would be paid by the Company. No plan expenses were paid by the Company during 2009.

Note 9 - Transfers of Participants

Participant Plan account balances are reflected by the recordkeeper as of the closing date per the financial statements. Participants who transfer between the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries during the Plan year have their respective balances reflected in the 401(k) plan of the Praxair entity by whom they are employed at year-end. The amounts reflected in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits represent the balances of participants who moved into the Plan or out of the Plan into another Company-sponsored Plan during the year. The amounts for transfers into the Plan and out of the Plan due to participants moving between the other plans during the year were $12,920 and $157,144, respectively.

Note 10 - Parties-in-Interest Transactions

Certain Plan investments are shares of mutual funds managed by Fidelity. Fidelity 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 Plan Sponsor, and, therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions. Loans to participants also qualify as party-in-interest transactions.

Note 11 - 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, participants will become 100% vested and the net assets of the Plan will be distributed or sold exclusively for the benefit of the participants (or their beneficiaries).

Note 12 - Subsequent Events

Effective January 1, 2010, the Plan offers a new savings option – a Roth 401(k). Roth 401(k) contributions will be eligible for Company matching contributions. Participants will not be allowed to transfer previously deferred contributions to their Roth 401(k) account. The combined Roth 401(k) and pre-tax 401(k) contributions cannot exceed the same annual IRS or Plan limits currently applicable to pre-tax 401(k) contributions.

Effective January 1, 2010, exchanges into the Praxair Common Stock Fund are limited to once a month.

 

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Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

EIN: 45-0467418, Plan Number: 002

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

As of December 31, 2009

 

 

(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

*

   Fidelity MIP II Class 3 Fund    Common/Collective Trust    *   $ 5,831,655
   Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth Fund    Mutual Fund    *     4,445,719

*

   Praxair Common Stock Fund    Stock Fund    *     4,361,408
   MSIFT U.S. Small Cap Core Value Portfolio    Mutual Fund    *     2,378,652
   Wellington TC Growth Portfolio    Common/Collective Trust    *     1,892,393

*

   Fidelity International Discovery Fund    Mutual Fund    *     1,873,792
   Spartan 500 Index Fund    Mutual Fund    *     1,515,248

*

   Fidelity Equity Income Fund    Mutual Fund    *     1,475,564
   Columbia Acorn Fund - Class Z    Mutual Fund    *     1,475,198

*

   Fidelity Magellan Fund    Mutual Fund    *     1,460,358
   MSIFT Core Plus Fixed Income Portfolio    Mutual Fund    *     1,180,755
   PIMCO Emerging Markets Bond Fund    Mutual Fund    *     468,609
   Vanguard LifeStrategy Income Fund    Mutual Fund    *     378,574
   International Index Fund    Common/Collective Trust    *     288,036
   Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund    Mutual Fund    *     69,522
              
             29,095,483

*

   Loans to participants    Rates ranging 2.25% to 10%; maturities through 2039    *     1,623,804
              
   Total investments at fair value         $ 30,719,287
              

 

* 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.

Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

 

Date: May 28, 2010     By:   /S/    JAMES S. SAWYER        
      James S. Sawyer,
      Member of the Administration and Investment
      Committee for the Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
      (On behalf of the Plan)

 

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Table of Contents

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

Danbury, Connecticut

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-97191) of our report dated May 28, 2010, relating to the financial statements and supplemental schedule of Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan appearing in this Form 11-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

/s/ BDO Seidman, LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 28, 2010

 

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