Ad hoc

Ad-hoc-announcement according to section 15 WpHG: Linde intends to acquire Lincare Holdings Inc., Clearwater, Florida, for app. USD 4.6 billion

Linde AG /
Ad hoc: Ad-hoc-announcement according to section 15 WpHG: Linde intends to
acquire Lincare Holdings Inc., Clearwater, Florida, for app. USD 4.6 billion
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Munich, 1 July 2012: Linde has signed a merger agreement with Lincare Holdings
Inc., a US-based homecare health company. Linde intends to acquire all
outstanding shares of Lincare Holdings Inc. by submitting a cash offer to the
Lincare Holdings Inc. shareholders of USD 41.50 per common share, followed by a
merger. The planned acquisition has a total transaction volume of approximately
USD 4.6 billion. Closing is expected for the third quarter of fiscal year 2012.
Completion of the offer and merger is subject to receipt of regulatory approvals
and other customary closing conditions.

The funding of the transaction will be done by an acquisition loan in the total
amount of USD 4.5 bn and through available cash. The acquisition loan will be
refinanced by debt and equity issuances.

The tender offer described herein has not yet commenced, and this material is
neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of
Lincare Holdings Inc. common stock. At the time the tender offer is commenced,
Linde will file a tender offer statement with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Lincare Holdings Inc.  shareholders are
strongly advised to read the tender offer documents that will be filed with the
SEC because they will contain important information that Lincare Holdings Inc.
shareholders should consider before tendering their shares. These documents will
be available for free at the SEC´s website (http://www.sec.gov) and by directing
a request to Linde AG, Klosterhofstraße 1, 80331 Munich, Germany.

Linde Aktiengesellschaft
Klosterhofstr. 1
80331 Munich
www.linde.com
[e-mail]

ISIN:     DE0006483001

For further information:

Media Investor Relations
Uwe Wolfinger Dr. Dominik Heger
Tel: [phone] Tel: [phone]

Matthias Dachwald Lisa Tilmann
Tel: [phone] Tel: [phone]

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(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and
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(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and
originality of the information contained therein.

Source: Linde AG via Thomson Reuters ONE
[HUG#1623289]

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Linde AG
Klosterhofstrasse 1 Munich Germany

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DE0006483001