The Linde Group sells its valve production facility MAPAG to Metso (Finland)

Munich, 7 May 2008 - The Linde Group, a world leading gases and engineering company, has sold its valve production facility MAPAG Valves GmbH (Germany) to the international technology corporation Metso (Finland) at an enterprise value of 36 million euro. The contract was signed today and will enter into effect on approval from the relevant anti-trust authorities.

With the divestiture of this non-core activity Linde's Engineering Division further focuses on its core competencies. MAPAG is a specialist in producing high performance butterfly valves for different types of plants in the petrochemical, air separation and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) industry.

The company employs a staff of around 100 and achieved sales of approximately 31 million euro in the 2007 financial year.

The Linde Group is a world leading gases and engineering company with more than 50,000 employees working in around 100 countries worldwide. In the 2007 financial year it achieved sales of EUR 12.3 billion. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards earnings-based and sustainable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment - in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. Linde is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.

For more information, see The Linde Group web site at www. linde.com

For further information:

Press                         Investor Relations
Uwe Wolfinger                 Thomas Eisenlohr
Telephone: +49.89.35757-1320  Telephone: +49.89.35757-1330

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