The Linde Group concludes the sale of non-BOC gases activities in the UK to Air Liquide

The technology group The Linde Group has concluded the sale of Linde's non-BOC gases activities in the UK ("Linde Gas UK") to the worldwide industrial and medical gases company Air Liquide at an enterprise value of 105 million euro. Following the receipt of unconditional approval from the European Commission, the transaction was completed today.

Linde Gas UK achieved sales of around 60 million euro in the 2006 financial year, and currently employs a staff of around 280.

This divestiture was one of the antitrust conditions imposed by the European Commission arising from the acquisition of The BOC Group plc by Linde which became effective on 5 September 2006.

The Linde Group is a world-leading industrial gases, medical gases and engineering company with around 49,000 employees working in more than 70 countries worldwide. Following the acquisition of The BOC Group plc, the company has gases and engineering sales of around 12 billion euro per annum. 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

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