Linde AG (FRA:LIN) The Linde Group Is To Build A New Air Separation Plant In The Border Region Next To Basel

Linde AG (FRA:LIN) Munich/Dagmersellen, 23 October 2008 - The technology group The Linde Group, via its Swiss subsidiary PanGas AG, is to build a new air separation plant in Muttenz, in the Swiss canton of Basel-Land, for around 68 million Swiss francs (44 million euro). The new plant, which will have a capacity of over 500 tons of liquefied nitrogen, oxygen and argon per day will come on stream in the late autumn of 2010.

"This new air separation plant will enable us to increase security of supply, especially for chemical and pharmaceutical companies sited at the point where the borders of Switzerland, Germany and France meet (known as the Dreiländereck Basel). What's more, Linde's capital investment underlines our commitment to this location and to our customers in the region," said Dr Aldo Belloni, member of the Executive Board of Linde AG.

The new plant will be the largest and most modern in the region. Its liquid products will also be transported in an environmentally friendly way, by rail. In addition to the new production plant, Linde will be building an extension to the offices of the Basel Advisory Centre.

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 sustainable earnings-based 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 http://www.linde.com

Further information:

Press Investor Relations Dr Thomas Hagn Thomas Eisenlohr Telephone: +49.89.35757-1323 Telephone: +49.89.35757-1330

This announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



LINK: http://hugin.info/125064/R/1262476/276848.pdf

Linde AG

http://www.linde.com

ISIN: DE0006483001

Stock Identifier: XFRA.LIN