On September 30, 2021, Linde plc (the “Company”) issued €700 million aggregate principal amount of 0.000% Notes due 2026 (the “2026 Notes”), €500 million aggregate principal amount of 0.375% Notes due 2033 (the “2033 Notes”) and €700 million aggregate principal amount of 1.000% Notes due 2051 (the “2051 Notes”). The 2026 Notes, the 2033 Notes and the 2051 Notes were issued pursuant to a Subscription Agreement, dated September 28, 2021, by and among Linde plc, as Issuer, and the financial institutions named as bookrunners and other managers therein (the “Managers”). The terms of the 2026 Notes, the 2033 Notes and the 2051 Notes are set out in the Final Terms filed as Exhibits 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3, respectively, which are incorporated herein by reference.
The net proceeds of the offering were approximately €1,892.6 million, after giving effect to the fees to the Managers but before other fees and expenses of the offering. Net proceeds of the offering will be used for general corporate purposes.
The 2026 Notes, the 2033 Notes and 2051 Notes have been admitted to the official list of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and for trading on the Euro MTF market operated by the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.
The 2026 Notes, the 2033 Notes and the 2051 Notes were issued under the European debt issuance programme (the “Program”) established on May 11, 2020 by the Company and Linde Finance (together, the “Issuers”) and subsequently updated on August 3, 2021, and supplemented on September 17, 2021. Under the Program, each Issuer may issue unsecured notes (“Notes”) with such terms, including currency, interest rate and maturity, as agreed by the relevant Issuer and the purchasers of such Notes at the time of sale and as set out in the final terms (“Final Terms”) for the relevant issue of Notes. The current Program will be valid for a period of one year after which it will require updating prior to any further issuance of Notes. Upon occurrence of any material event concerning the Issuers, such as the publication of new financial information, the Program must be supplemented. The aggregate principal amount of Notes authorized under the Program to be outstanding from time to time is €10 billion (or the equivalent in other currencies).
Notes issued by the Company under the Program will be guaranteed by Linde GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company organized under the laws of Germany, and Linde Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company organized under the laws of Delaware (such guarantees of Linde GmbH and Linde Inc. were filed as Exhibits 4.4 and 4.5, respectively, to Linde Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 26, 2020, Filing No. 001-38730, and are incorporated hereby by reference).
Pursuant to an Amended and Restated Dealer Agreement, dated August 3, 2021, by and among the Issuers and Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, as arranger and dealer, and the other dealers party thereto from time to time (together the “Dealers”), the Issuers have appointed the Dealers to subscribe and pay for Notes issued under the Program on the terms set out therein. The Issuers have appointed Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft as fiscal agent and paying agent for any Notes issued under the Program pursuant to an Amended and Restated Fiscal Agency Agreement, dated August 3, 2021. Copies of the Fiscal Agency Agreement and the Dealer Agreement are filed as Exhibits 4.6 and Exhibit 1.1, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.
Notes issued under the Program by the Issuers will be issued pursuant to Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), will not be registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements under the Securities Act. This Current Report on Form 8-K shall not