Linde AG’s acquisition of the BOC Group plc has met the European Commission’s approval.

The commission requires Linde to divest its UK gas business, contacts with Linde’s ethylene oxide customers in the UK and Ireland, and BOC’s gas activities in Poland. The divestitures have an annual sales volume of about EUR160 million (USD205 million).

Linde has to commit to transfer certain contracts with helium suppliers and to sever, to some extent, joint ventures between BOC and Air Liquide in the Asia-Pacific region.

Linde president Wolfgang Reitzle said Linde would comply promptly with the commission’s requirements. The merger with BOC is expected to be finalised in the third quarter of 2006.

No comment has been issued on the sale of Linde’s materials handling segment (Forkliftaction.com News #259).