FAQ

The „Gesellschaft für Linde’s Eismaschinen“was founded in 1879 by Carl von Linde. Please click here for further information on Linde's Corporate Heritage here.

The Linde Group has its registered office in Munich.

Linde is focused on Gas and Engineering operations, worldwide: The Linde Group is one of the world leading industrial gases player. Linde supplies its customers with a range of gases to be applied in industry, healthcare, environmental protection and R&D. Linde’s Engineering Division specializes in the planning, project development and construction of turnkey industrial plants. Focusing on Natural gas plants, Olefin plants, Hydrogen plants and Air separation plants and has a leading market position in all segments.

As at 31 December 2010 Linde had 48,430 employees worldwide.

Link to financial calendar

You can contact us directly by phone, email or in writing. Our contact details are here.

Please send us an e-mail and we can add you to our email and/or postal distribution list. Our contact details are here.

You can contact us directly be phone, email or in writing. Our contact details are here.

The acquisition price is based on a detailed analysis of BOC and its future prospects and the significant value potential which a combination will bring for Linde shareholders. The acquisition offers strong value potential from a transition into a pure play industrial gases company, with the potential for cost and revenue synergies and an enhanced growth and profitability profile based on the strong complementary nature of both groups. We are convinced the price is well founded from our shareholders’ perspective.

The acquisition price represented an attractive premium of approximately 39% to the closing price of 1,151 pence per BOC Share on 23 January 2006 (being the last Business Day prior to the announcement by BOC that it had received an approach from Linde).

The financing of the transaction is secured by a syndicated loan of 15 bn € provided by Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, Dresdner Bank, Morgan Stanley and Royal Bank of Scotland. This credit facility will be refinanced through equity and debt issuance as well as through disposals. In July Linde successfully implemented an equity increase of 1,8 bn € and launched a hybrid bond with a volume of 1,05 bn €.

The acquisition offers significant value potential for Linde’s shareholders from a transition into a pure play industrial gases company, with the potential for cost and revenue synergies and an enhanced growth and profitability profile based on the strong complementary nature of both groups.

Through this transaction, Linde will be ideally positioned in key growth markets and segments. Across geographies such as Eastern Europe and Asia Pacific and products like Healthcare and Electronic Gases this transaction will create a leader in four out of seven growth segments with compounded annual growth rates of between 4 and 15 percent.

The industrial gases market has demonstrated stable growth rates of 2 to 2.5 times GDP and is expected to grow again by 7% over the next four years. This growth will be driven by product enhancements and new applications to further improve productivity. Looking at the largest pure-play companies in this sector, they delivered strong EBITDA margins and average EPS growth of 8% over the last 10 years. The industry is also marked by long-term contracts and diverse customer segments, making it an attractive, stable business with predictable cash flows. The combination of Linde and BOC will create a leader in this sector and the scale and scope will allow us to take full advantage of the growth opportunities in the market.

The engineering business is a key component and competitive strength in the gases business. For more than ten years Linde and BOC have a long standing cooperation in the engineering business. This cooperation provides Linde with a high level of familiarity with the asset base of this business and we see significant potential ahead. The combination will match the presence of both Linde and BOC in all regions to develop a truly global engineering footprint. We will leverage the economies of scale and cross-fertilization of ideas and will extend our reach to BOC’s existing joint venture partners and customers.

The anticipated annual pre-tax cost synergies are approximately €250 million p.a., fully realised during 2009. They will come equally from more efficient supply management and production optimization, procurement as well as R&D, and reduction in general and administrative costs.

In addition to the cost synergies there is significant upside potential from revenue synergies. Cross-selling of products and services, joint application of innovation and knowledge sharing, the ability to serve global customers on a global basis and providing engineering and industrial gases from one source will allow Linde to unlock significant opportunities for revenue development.

Linde wishes that its shareholders participate in the benefits of the strategy of profitable growth. Therefore, dividend payments to shareholders should steadily increase reflecting the progression of the company´s underlying business.

The next Annual General Meeting will take place on 12 May 2011.

The Annual General Meeting will take place at the International Congress Center, 81823 Munich.

Firstly, you must own shares in Linde. You should automatically get an invitation via your bank, if not, you can request an invitation through your bank or you can send an email to annualgeneralmeeting@linde.com.

There are various ways to participate in the AGM vote without being present. For details, please refer to the invitation to the Annual General Meeting. When published, the invitation will also be avaiable online here

Linde only has Bearer shares outstanding.

Linde’s ISIN is DE0006483001.

Linde’s CUSIP code is 648 300.

Linde shares are quoted on all German stock exchanges.

You can buy Linde shares through your high street bank.

Linde is quoted, amongst others, in the following indices:

As at 31 August 2010 Linde had 169,552,041 shares outstanding.

You will find a detailed breakdown of our shareholder structure here.

Link to financial calendar

Linde’s fiscal year runs from 1 January to 31 December.

You can find historical information on Linde share on this chart tool.

Please find here a five-year summary of key figures.

Linde converted from HGB (German Commercial Code) to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in the second quarter of 2002.

Please find here information relating to Linde’s share option scheme.

Linde wishes that its shareholders participate in the benefits from the strategy of profitable growth. Therefore, dividend payments to shareholders should steadily increase reflecting the progression of the company’ss underlying business. There is no strictly defined payout ratio; dividend growth can be expected to roughly mirror growth rates of underlying operational profit.

The divident for the year 2010 will be paid out on 13 May 2011, this is the next working day after the Annual General Meeting 2011.

Dividends distributed by Linde are subject to a withholding tax (KESt) of 20 percent (21.1 percent including the solidarity surcharge). This tax liability arises from the point at which the shareholder receives the dividend. KESt is withheld by Linde AG. German investors may credit any tax withheld against their income tax liability. For foreign investors, all tax liability is deemed fully discharged by this withholding. If, however, a double taxation agreement exists between Germany and the investor’s home country, the investor may be eligible for a (partial) refund of the tax withheld, if the double taxation agreement specifies a lower tax rate.

You will not be notified of payment by Linde, you will need to check your bank account.

No, it is not possible to re-invest your dividend directly.

Please find here details about the various financing Instruments of Linde.

Please find here details about Linde’s debt rating.

Please find here information on Linde’s Corporate Responsibility.