Formation of Linde Plc and Business Combination of Praxair, Inc. and Linde AG	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Formation of Linde Plc and Business Combination of Praxair, Inc. and Linde AG	Formation of Linde plc and Business Combination of Praxair, Inc. and Linde AG Formation of Linde plc Linde plc ("Linde" or “the company”), a public limited company incorporated in Ireland, was formed in accordance with the requirements of the business combination agreement, dated as of June 1, 2017, as amended (the “business combination agreement”). Pursuant to the business combination agreement, among other things, Praxair, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Praxair”), and Linde Aktiengesellschaft, a stock corporation incorporated under the laws of Germany (“Linde AG”), agreed to combine their respective businesses through an all-stock transaction, and become subsidiaries of the company (collectively referred to as “business combination” or “merger”). On October 31, 2018, Linde completed the business combination. Prior to the business combination, the company did not conduct any business activities other than those required for its formation and matters contemplated by the business combination agreement. Business Combination of Praxair, Inc. and Linde AG The business combination has been accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 805, “Business Combinations”, with Praxair representing the accounting acquirer. Pursuant to Rule 12g-3(a) under the Exchange Act, as of October 31, 2018, the company became the successor issuer to Praxair. Also, the Linde shares are deemed to be registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and the company is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The Linde shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “LIN”. Prior to the business combination, the Praxair shares were registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and listed on the NYSE. In connection with the completion of the business combination, the Praxair shares were suspended from trading on the NYSE as of close of business (New York Time) on October 30, 2018. On November 1, 2018, Praxair filed a Form 25 to de-list and de-register its three series of Euro-denominated notes, including its 1.50% Notes due 2020, 1.20% Notes due 2024 and 1.625% Notes due 2025, that were listed on the NYSE. Trading of the Euro-denominated notes on the NYSE was suspended as of close of business (New York Time) on November 9, 2018, and Praxair filed a Form 15 with the SEC terminating the registration under the Exchange Act of its securities and suspending Praxair’s reporting obligations under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. In connection with the business combination, the company, Praxair and Linde AG entered into various agreements with regulatory authorities to satisfy anti-trust requirements to secure approval to consummate the business combination. These agreements included the sale of the majority of Praxair’s European businesses (subsequently completed on December 3, 2018), the majority of Linde AG’s Americas business (subsequently completed on March 1, 2019), as well as certain divestitures of other Praxair and Linde AG businesses in Asia that are currently expected to be sold in 2019 (collectively, the “merger-related divestitures”). See Note 17 for additional information relating to merger-related divestitures. To obtain merger approval in the United States Linde, Praxair and Linde AG entered into an agreement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission dated October 1, 2018 (“hold separate order” or “HSO”). Under the HSO, the company, Praxair and Linde AG agreed to (i) continue to operate Linde AG and Praxair as independent, ongoing, economically viable, competitive businesses held separate, distinct, and apart from each other’s operations; (ii) not coordinate any aspect of the operations of Linde AG and Praxair, including the marketing or sale of any products; and (iii) maintain separate financial ledgers, books, and records that report on a periodic basis, consistent with past practices, the assets, liabilities, expenses, revenues, and income of each, until certain divestitures in the United States have been completed. The restrictions under the hold separate order were lifted March 1, 2019, concurrent with the sale of the required merger-related divestitures in the United States. Comparability of Financial Information Because Praxair and Linde AG combined their respective businesses effective with the merger date of October 31, 2018 in accordance with ASC 805, the quarter ended March 31, 2019 reflects the results and cash flows of the combined business, while the quarter ended March 31, 2018 includes only Praxair. Due to the size of Linde AG’s businesses prior to the merger, the reported results for 2019 and 2018 quarters are not comparable. The balance sheets at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 are comparable because both periods reflect the merger.

Formation of Linde plc and Business Combination of Praxair, Inc. and Linde AG

Formation of Linde plc

Linde plc ("Linde" or “the company”), a public limited company incorporated in Ireland, was formed in accordance with the requirements of the business combination agreement, dated as of June 1, 2017, as amended (the “business combination agreement”). Pursuant to the business combination agreement, among other things, Praxair, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Praxair”), and Linde Aktiengesellschaft, a stock corporation incorporated under the laws of Germany (“Linde AG”), agreed to combine their respective businesses through an all-stock transaction, and become subsidiaries of the company (collectively referred to as “business combination” or “merger”). On October 31, 2018, Linde completed the business combination. Prior to the business combination, the company did not conduct any business activities other than those required for its formation and matters contemplated by the business combination agreement.

Business Combination of Praxair, Inc. and Linde AG

The business combination has been accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 805, “Business Combinations”, with Praxair representing the accounting acquirer. Pursuant to Rule 12g-3(a) under the Exchange Act, as of October 31, 2018, the company became the successor issuer to Praxair. Also, the Linde shares are deemed to be registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and the company is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The Linde shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “LIN”. Prior to the business combination, the Praxair shares were registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and listed on the NYSE. In connection with the completion of the business combination, the Praxair shares were suspended from trading on the NYSE as of close of business (New York Time) on October 30, 2018. On November 1, 2018, Praxair filed a Form 25 to de-list and de-register its three series of Euro-denominated notes, including its 1.50% Notes due 2020, 1.20% Notes due 2024 and 1.625% Notes due 2025, that were listed on the NYSE. Trading of the Euro-denominated notes on the NYSE was suspended as of close of business (New York Time) on November 9, 2018, and Praxair filed a Form 15 with the SEC terminating the registration under the Exchange Act of its securities and suspending Praxair’s reporting obligations under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

In connection with the business combination, the company, Praxair and Linde AG entered into various agreements with regulatory authorities to satisfy anti-trust requirements to secure approval to consummate the business combination. These agreements included the sale of the majority of Praxair’s European businesses (subsequently completed on December 3, 2018), the majority of Linde AG’s Americas business (subsequently completed on March 1, 2019), as well as certain divestitures of other Praxair and Linde AG businesses in Asia that are currently expected to be sold in 2019 (collectively, the “merger-related divestitures”). See Note 17 for additional information relating to merger-related divestitures.

To obtain merger approval in the United States Linde, Praxair and Linde AG entered into an agreement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission dated October 1, 2018 (“hold separate order” or “HSO”). Under the HSO, the company, Praxair and Linde AG agreed to (i) continue to operate Linde AG and Praxair as independent, ongoing, economically viable, competitive businesses held separate, distinct, and apart from each other’s operations; (ii) not coordinate any aspect of the operations of Linde AG and Praxair, including the marketing or sale of any products; and (iii) maintain separate financial ledgers, books, and records that report on a periodic basis, consistent with past practices, the assets, liabilities, expenses, revenues, and income of each, until certain divestitures in the United States have been completed. The restrictions under the hold separate order were lifted March 1, 2019, concurrent with the sale of the required merger-related divestitures in the United States.

Comparability of Financial Information

Because Praxair and Linde AG combined their respective businesses effective with the merger date of October 31, 2018 in accordance with ASC 805, the quarter ended March 31, 2019 reflects the results and cash flows of the combined business, while the quarter ended March 31, 2018 includes only Praxair. Due to the size of Linde AG’s businesses prior to the merger, the reported results for 2019 and 2018 quarters are not comparable. The balance sheets at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 are comparable because both periods reflect the merger.