Linde North America Rebrands Spectra Gases Business

Key milestone in integration process
MURRAY HILL, N.J.--(Business Wire)--
Linde North America, a member of The Linde Group, has announced that Spectra
Gases Inc., acquired in 2006, is changing its brand name to Linde, effective
immediately.

Spectra Gases, which Linde acquired in 2006, is a global leader in next
generation fine chemicals and high purity gases. The Linde Group is one of the
world`s leading gases and engineering companies. The brand change represents a
significant milestone in the effort to fully integrate Spectra Gases into the
company`s global R&D, production and distribution network.

"Rebranding is a significant step in the integration process because it is a
visible sign to customers and employees that we are a single company operating
under one logo and a single set of values," said Cliff Caldwell, Linde vice
president, electronic and special gases in North America.

"For over three years Linde has been offering Spectra Gases` products and
services to customers around the world, where many customers already know us as
Linde. It makes sense to formalize this relationship by rebranding," Caldwell
said.

"Since its founding in 1980, Spectra Gases` extraordinary team of employees has
been committed to ensuring our customers get the highest quality products and
services to keep their businesses operating at peak performance. It is this
commitment to customers and the company`s expertise in producing and supplying
high purity gases, chemicals and technology that makes Spectra Gases such a good
fit with Linde," Caldwell said.

The Spectra Gases products and services complement Linde`s own offerings across
a number of industries, including medicine, scientific research, fiber optics,
semiconductor manufacturing, environmental testing and compliance, laser
applications and lighting.

Beginning this fall, the Linde logo will make its appearance at Spectra Gases`
locations around the U.S and on its hundreds of trucks, skids and tanks.
Thousands of gas cylinders and equipment also will be converted to the Linde
brand, a process expected to continue over several years. Some name-plate
specialty gases products, such as Spectra Laser Gases, will retain the Spectra
brand, but will become part of the Linde HiQ family of specialty gases.

The HiQ specialty gases program from Linde supplies high purity gases, gas
mixtures, precision engineered equipment and gas distribution systems, and
services and support, to a wide range of industries employing specialty gases
applications. In addition to the line of SPECTRA high purity gases the HiQ
program includes the REDLINE and BASELINE trademarked equipment product ranges
and the SPECTRA-SEAL, ECOCYL and VERISEQ specialty gas ranges.

HiQ products represent Linde`s commitment to the highest available quality and
global consistency across gases, equipment and services. To learn more, go to
http://hiq.linde-gas.com

The Linde Group is a world leading gases and engineering company with almost
50,000 employees working in around 100 countries worldwide. In the 2008
financial year it achieved sales of EUR 12.7 billion (USD 15.9 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 online at www.linde.com

Linde corporate communications
Peter Gavigan, 908-771-1512
Peter.Gavigan@linde.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009