Linde plc Announces Initial $1 Billion Share Repurchase Program

Guildford, UK, 10 December 2018 – Linde plc (NYSE: LIN; FWB: LIN) today announced its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program for up to USD 1.0 billion of its ordinary shares.

"This initial program for $1 billion will allow us to immediately take advantage of an opportunistic time for stock repurchases until we formally communicate a comprehensive capital allocation policy in the first quarter."  Said Steve Angel, CEO of Linde plc.  " With a strong balance sheet and excess free cash flow, the company is well-positioned to reward shareholders through this first share buyback program.  I remain highly confident that Linde plc will deliver substantial value to all stakeholders."   

Pursuant to European Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) requirements, this repurchase program must set forth a maximum share threshold and an expiration date, which the Board has set at 5% of outstanding shares and 30 April 2019, respectively.  Management does not anticipate that these requirements will impact the program.

Forward-looking Statements

This document contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are identified by terms and phrases such as: anticipate, believe, intend, estimate, expect, continue, should, could, may, plan, project, predict, will, potential, forecast, and similar expressions. They are based on management’s reasonable expectations and assumptions as of the date the statements are made but involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: the ability to successfully integrate the Praxair and Linde AG businesses; regulatory or other limitations and requirements imposed as a result of the business combination of Praxair and Linde AG that could reduce anticipated benefits of the transaction; the risk that Linde plc may be unable to achieve expected synergies or that it may take longer or be more costly than expected to achieve those synergies; the performance of stock markets generally; developments in worldwide and national economies and other international events and circumstances, including trade conflicts and tariffs; changes in foreign currencies and in interest rates; the cost and availability of electric power, natural gas and other raw materials; the ability to achieve price increases to offset cost increases; catastrophic events including natural disasters, epidemics and acts of war and terrorism; the ability to attract, hire, and retain qualified personnel; the impact of changes in financial accounting standards; the impact of changes in pension plan liabilities; the impact of tax, environmental, healthcare and other legislation and government regulation in jurisdictions in which the company operates, including the impact of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017; the cost and outcomes of investigations, litigation and regulatory proceedings; the impact of potential unusual or non-recurring items; continued timely development and market acceptance of new products and applications; the impact of competitive products and pricing; future financial and operating performance of major customers and industries served; the impact of information technology system failures, network disruptions and breaches in data security; and the effectiveness and speed of integrating new acquisitions into the business. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual future results or circumstances to differ materially from GAAP, IFRS or adjusted projections, estimates or other forward-looking statements.

Linde plc assumes no obligation to update or provide revisions to any forward-looking statement in response to changing circumstances. The above listed risks and uncertainties are further described in the section “Risk Factors” in Linde plc’s European Listing Prospectus, published on October 24, 2018, and Item 8.01 of Linde plc’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 31, 2018, which should be reviewed carefully. Please consider Linde plc’s forward-looking statements in light of those risks.