EU regulators to okay $83 bln Linde, Praxair deal - sources

NIPPON SANSO HOLDINGS

12/07/2018 16:14

BRUSSELS, July 12 (Reuters) - EU antitrust regulators are
set to approve gases groups Linde  LING.DE  and Praxair's  PX.N 
$83 billion merger after pledging to sell Praxair's assets to
boost a Japanese rival in Europe, two people familiar with the
matter said on Thursday.
    German company Linde and U.S. peer Praxair announced their
merger plan in June last year which will create a global leader
in gas distribution, ahead of French competitor Air Liquide
 AIRP.PA .
    Earlier this month, Praxair said it would sell its European
assets to Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corp  4091.T  for 5 billion euros
to address the European Commission's concerns.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N1U12JS

 (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee)
 ((foo.yunchee@thomsonreuters.com; +32 2 287 6844; Reuters
Messaging: foo.yunchee.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))