Linde: unveils 'solid' results before merger with Praxair

(CercleFinance.com) - Linde delivered a "solid performance" in 2017, meeting its targets, which prompted the German industrial gases group to raise its dividend.


The Munich-based company said group revenue increased 2.1% to 17.1 billion euros last year, while operating profit increased by 4.1% to 4.2 billion euros.

Looking ahead, Linde said it expected 2018 revenue to be similar to its level in 2017, or could increase by up to 4%; with operating profit expected to rise by up to 5%.

Its merger with US-based rival Praxair is still expected to be completed in the second half of 2018.

The planned dividend includes a 3.90 euro distribution for the financial year 2017, up from 3.70 euros in 2016, plus a distribution of the expected dividend of 3.10 euros relating to three quarters of 2018, before its merger is complete.

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