The Linde Group Acquires Turkish Industrial Gases Company BOS

The technology group The Linde Group has acquired the Turkey based industrial gases company Birlesic Oksijen Sanayi A.S. (BOS), a subsidiary of the Koc group, at an enterprise value of approximately 92 million euro.

BOS operates with industrial and specialty gases. In fiscal year 2006 BOS generated sales of approximately 30 million euro and employs a staff of around 180.

Following the acquisition of Karbogaz A.S. in July 2006, the takeover of BOS is the second major transaction in Turkey by Linde.

"With this acquisition we complement our product range in the important strategic market Turkey and at the same time strengthen our position for supplying the neighbouring markets of the Middle East," said Dr Aldo Belloni, member of the Executive Board of Linde AG.

The closing of the transaction is subject to regulatory approval and customary conditions.

The Linde Group is a world leading industrial gases and engineering company with more than 51,000 employees working in around 70 countries worldwide. Following the acquisition of The BOC Group, the company has gases and engineering sales of approximately 12 billion euro. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards earnings-based growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services.

For more information, please see The Linde Group online at http://www.linde.com

Press Release as pdf http://hugin.info/125064/R/1117540/204747.pdf

For further information: Press Uwe Wolfinger Telephone: 49.89.35757-1320 Investor Relations Thomas Eisenlohr Telephone: 49.89.35757-1330