Linde is an industrial gas and engineering company with more than 51,908 employees working in about 70 countries on all continents. It has grown into a diversified company providing a comprehensive range of products and services to customers in industry, commerce as well as public and municipal sectors. After the acquisition of BOC it has achieved gas and engineering related sales of approximately Euro13bn in 2007. 
History
Founded in 1879 as a supplier of refrigeration machines, it first started manufacturing oxygen in 1902 and became the world's fourth largest gas supplier when it acquired Sweden's AGA in 2000. In 2004, Linde's refrigeration business was spun off and later sold to Carrier Corp.
On 4 September 2006, Linde acquired BOC. The £16/share agreed offer, which valued BOC at around £8.2bn, took effect from 5 September 2006.
Following the merger of Linde and BOC the company now trades under the name "The Linde Group". The name change applies to the group only. On the operating level, the Linde and BOC brands will remain unchanged.
Company movements
In October 2008, Linde bought the remainder of Australian liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) company Elgas from its joint-venture partner AGL Energy for €126m ($177m).
In May 2008, Linde acquired a 51% majority stake in Saudi Industrial Gas (Sigas) for an undisclosed sum.
Also in May 2008, INEOS ChlorVinyls said it will sell its packed chlorine business to BOC. The sale will include the packed chlorine production facilities at its Runcorn site in northwest England and the associate commercial goodwill of the business.
The deal was first announced in March 2008.
In January 2008, Linde set up a joint venture with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) for the production and long-term supply of industrial gases. United Arab Emirates (UAE) producer Adnoc will hold a 51% stake in the venture, Elixier, while the remaining 49% will be owned by Linde.
Other significant company movements
In December 2007, Linde sold its BOC pharmaceutical systems business to IMA for Euro36m ($54m).
Linde concluded the sale of its BOC Edwards' component business - vacuum pumps and semiconductor components in May 2007.
In September 2007, Linde acquired Swiss plant engineering and construction company Bertrams Heatec for an undisclosed sum.
In July 2007, Linde acquired Birlesic Oksijen Sanayi (BOS), a Turkish industrial gases company for $120m.
In July 2007, Airgas acquired the US packaged gas business of Linde for $310m (Euro232m).
In June 2007, Linde acquired a major stake in Entreprise Nationale de Gaz Industriels (ENGI).
On 8 March 2007, Linde sold off Linde Gas UK (its non-BOC gases activities) to Air Liquide for Euro105m ($138.2m). The sale was completed on 31 May 2007.
In March 2007, Linde sold the component business of its subsidiary BOC Edwards to CCMP Capital for Euro685m ($520.6m). The sale was completed on 31 May 2007.
In April 2007, Linde sold BOC's Polish gases activities, BOC Gazy, to Air Products and Chemicals for Euro370m ($481m).
In December 2006, Linde completed the sale of its forklift truck division to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners at a price of Euro4bn.
The company is split into the following divisions:
Gas Division
Linde Gas
Linde Gas is a supplier of industrial and medical gases for industrial use. The division is also focused on expanding its Healthcare section and in the development of environmentally-friendly hydrogen technology.
It offers a large variety of gases for applications in industry, medicine, environmental protection and R&D, as well as know-how in application technology, service and the hardware required for gases applications.
BOC Gases
A global industrial gases provider, BOC supplies compressed and bulk gases, chemicals and equipment. BOC's gases have contributed to advances in many industries and aspects of everyday life, including steel-making, refining, chemical processing, environmental protection, wastewater treatment, welding and cutting, food processing and distribution, glass production, electronics and health care. It has around 19,825 employees.
Afrox
South African-based African Oxygen (Afrox) is a provider of gases and welding products. Afrox gases are also used in almost every hospital in sub-Saharan Africa, in hairsprays, fridges, air-conditioning units, light bulbs, and by most restaurants, pubs and hotels.
Afrox's welding products are equally widely used. Nearly every piece of metal work in southern Africa is welded, brazed or cut using Afrox's electrodes, welding wires, gases or welding products.
Engineering Division
Linde Engineering
Linde Engineering focuses on market segments such as hydrogen, oxygen and olefin plants and natural gas processing plants. It has particular know-how in the building of turnkey plants for the petrochemical industry, production of hydrogen and synthesis gases, processing natural gas and the pharmaceutical industry. It also has experience in the areas of cryogenics, pharmaceuticals and environmental technology.
Gist Division
Gist
Gist is a provider of logistics and supply chain solutions. It operates in a wide range of commercial and industrial sectors including grocery, retail, electronics and gas.
The company employs around 5,500 people in 35 locations, serving customers including Ocado, Marks & Spencer, British Airways, Carlsberg UK, Budgens and Intergreen.