LIN Linde PLC

The Federal Trade Commission on Monday said it approved the sale of an industrial gases plant to Celanese Ltd. as part of the merger deal between Praxair and Linde AG, which was announced in December 2016.

The FTC in October 2018 ordered Praxair and Linde to divest certain industrial gas assets to keep from violating federal antitrust law.

Celanese will acquire Linde's hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide gas plant in Clear Lake, Texas.

Industrial-gas giants Praxair and Linde agreed to join forces in 2016 to create the industry's biggest player.

Earlier Monday, Praxair announced it intended to double production capacity at its Neosho, Mo., air separation plant. The expansion comes in response to the growing demand from customers in Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kansas. The project is expected to be completed in 2020. is a technology and speciality materials company with headquarters in Irving, Texas.

--Write to Stephen Nakrosis at stephen.nakrosis@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 11, 2019 15:48 ET (20:48 GMT)

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