Business Combination with Linde AG (Notes)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Business Combination with Linde AG [Abstract]
Business Combination with Linde AG [Text Block]	Business Combination with Linde AG Completion of the Business Combination On October 31, 2018, Praxair and Linde AG combined under Linde plc., as contemplated by the business combination agreement, dated June 1, 2017, as amended on August 10, 2017 (the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among Praxair, Linde AG, Linde plc, Zamalight Holdco LLC and Zamalight Subco, Inc. (the “Business Combination”). Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, (i) Praxair became an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Linde plc through the merger of Zamalight Subco, Inc., an indirect wholly-owned Delaware subsidiary of Linde plc with and into Praxair (the “Merger”), and (ii) Linde AG became an indirect subsidiary of Linde plc through an exchange offer by Linde plc for each issued and outstanding bearer share of Linde AG (the “Exchange Offer”). In the Merger, each issued and outstanding share of common stock of Praxair, par value $0.01 per share (the “Praxair Shares”), was converted into the right to receive one ordinary share, nominal value€0.001 per share, of Linde plc (the “Linde plc Shares”). Each issued and outstanding ordinary bearer share, without par value, of Linde AG (the “Linde AG Shares”) that was validly tendered in the Exchange Offer was exchanged for 1.540 Linde plc Shares. The issuance of Linde plc Shares in connection with the Business Combination, as described above, was registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) (File No. 333-218485), which was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on August 14, 2017. Pursuant to Rule 12g-3(a) under the Exchange Act, as of October 31, 2018, Linde plc is the successor issuer to Praxair, the Linde plc Shares are deemed to be registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and Linde plc is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The Linde plc Shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) 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 delist and deregister its three series of Euro-denominated notes (the “Euro Notes”), including its 1.50% Notes due 2020, 1.20% Notes due 2024 and 1.625% Notes due 2025, that are currently listed on the NYSE. Trading in the Euro Notes on the NYSE is expected to be suspended as of close of business (New York Time) on November 9, 2018. Praxair expects to file a Form 15 with the SEC to terminate the registration under the Exchange Act of the Praxair Shares and its Euro Notes and to suspend the Company’s reporting obligations under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act on November 12, 2018. Linde plc, as the new holding company of the combined group, will file reports under the Exchange Act. Divestitures On July 5, 2018, Praxair entered into a sale and purchase agreement to sell the majority of its businesses in Europe to Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation, an affiliate of Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation (the “Praxair Europe SPA”). The Praxair Europe SPA was entered into as part of the commitments in connection with the merger control review of the Business Combination by the European Commission. The assets to be sold include Praxair’s industrial gases businesses in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom with approximately 2,500 employees. The businesses generated annual sales of approximately €1.3 billion in 2017. The purchase price for this transaction is €5.0 billion in cash consideration and is subject to customary adjustments at closing. Under the Praxair Europe SPA, Linde plc has given an independent guarantee as of the completion of the Business Combination for the full, due and timely performance and observance of all obligations of Praxair and its local subsidiaries holding shares in the companies operating the businesses to be sold. The Praxair Europe SPA contains representations, warranties and covenants that are customary for a transaction of this nature. Following the closing of the Praxair Europe SPA and the closing of another agreement dated December 5, 2017 (the “SIAD SPA”) under which Praxair, inter alia, agreed to sell its participation in its Italian joint venture Società Italiana Acetilene e Derivati S.p.A. (“SIAD”) to its joint venture partner Flow Fin S.p.A. (“Flow Fin”) in exchange for Flow Fin’s participation in another Italian joint venture, Rivoira S.p.A., and a net purchase price of approximately €90 million payable by Praxair to Flow Fin, Praxair will have minor remaining operations in Europe which will be outside of the industrial gases business and mainly related to coatings. In the course of the merger control proceedings in the United States, Linde plc, Praxair and Linde AG entered into an agreement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission dated October 1, 2018 which provides for the divestitures under the Americas SPA and provides for certain additional divestiture commitments in the United States. Under the agreement, Linde plc, Praxair and Linde AG will (i) continue to operate The Linde Group 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 The Linde Group 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 have been completed. In addition, in connection with the merger control proceedings in China, India and South Korea, Praxair and Linde AG have made certain divestiture commitments to the relevant antitrust authorities to divest certain assets in the those jurisdictions.

Business Combination with Linde AG

Completion of the Business Combination

On October 31, 2018, Praxair and Linde AG combined under Linde plc., as contemplated by the business combination agreement, dated June 1, 2017, as amended on August 10, 2017 (the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among Praxair, Linde AG, Linde plc, Zamalight Holdco LLC and Zamalight Subco, Inc. (the “Business Combination”). Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, (i) Praxair became an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Linde plc through the merger of Zamalight Subco, Inc., an indirect wholly-owned Delaware subsidiary of Linde plc with and into Praxair (the “Merger”), and (ii) Linde AG became an indirect subsidiary of Linde plc through an exchange offer by Linde plc for each issued and outstanding bearer share of Linde AG (the “Exchange Offer”).

In the Merger, each issued and outstanding share of common stock of Praxair, par value $0.01 per share (the “Praxair Shares”), was converted into the right to receive one ordinary share, nominal value€0.001 per share, of Linde plc (the “Linde plc Shares”). Each issued and outstanding ordinary bearer share, without par value, of Linde AG (the “Linde AG Shares”) that was validly tendered in the Exchange Offer was exchanged for 1.540 Linde plc Shares.

The issuance of Linde plc Shares in connection with the Business Combination, as described above, was registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) (File No. 333-218485), which was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on August 14, 2017.

Pursuant to Rule 12g-3(a) under the Exchange Act, as of October 31, 2018, Linde plc is the successor issuer to Praxair, the Linde plc Shares are deemed to be registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and Linde plc is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The Linde plc Shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) 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 delist and deregister its three series of Euro-denominated notes (the “Euro Notes”), including its 1.50% Notes due 2020, 1.20% Notes due 2024 and 1.625% Notes due 2025, that are currently listed on the NYSE. Trading in the Euro Notes on the NYSE is expected to be suspended as of close of business (New York Time) on November 9, 2018. Praxair expects to file a Form 15 with the SEC to terminate the registration under the Exchange Act of the Praxair Shares and its Euro Notes and to suspend the Company’s reporting obligations under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act on November 12, 2018. Linde plc, as the new holding company of the combined group, will file reports under the Exchange Act.

Divestitures

On July 5, 2018, Praxair entered into a sale and purchase agreement to sell the majority of its businesses in Europe to Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation, an affiliate of Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation (the “Praxair Europe SPA”). The Praxair Europe SPA was entered into as part of the commitments in connection with the merger control review of the Business Combination by the European Commission. The assets to be sold include Praxair’s industrial gases businesses in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom with approximately 2,500 employees. The businesses generated annual sales of approximately €1.3 billion in 2017. The purchase price for this transaction is €5.0 billion in cash consideration and is subject to customary adjustments at closing. Under the Praxair Europe SPA, Linde plc has given an independent guarantee as of the completion of the Business Combination for the full, due and timely performance and observance of all obligations of Praxair and its local subsidiaries holding shares in the companies operating the businesses to be sold. The Praxair Europe SPA contains representations, warranties and covenants that are customary for a transaction of this nature.

Following the closing of the Praxair Europe SPA and the closing of another agreement dated December 5, 2017 (the “SIAD SPA”) under which Praxair, inter alia, agreed to sell its participation in its Italian joint venture Società Italiana Acetilene e Derivati S.p.A. (“SIAD”) to its joint venture partner Flow Fin S.p.A. (“Flow Fin”) in exchange for Flow Fin’s participation in another Italian joint venture, Rivoira S.p.A., and a net purchase price of approximately €90 million payable by Praxair to Flow Fin, Praxair will have minor remaining operations in Europe which will be outside of the industrial gases business and mainly related to coatings.

In the course of the merger control proceedings in the United States, Linde plc, Praxair and Linde AG entered into an agreement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission dated October 1, 2018 which provides for the divestitures under the Americas SPA and provides for certain additional divestiture commitments in the United States. Under the agreement, Linde plc, Praxair and Linde AG will (i) continue to operate The Linde Group 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 The Linde Group 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 have been completed.

In addition, in connection with the merger control proceedings in China, India and South Korea, Praxair and Linde AG have made certain divestiture commitments to the relevant antitrust authorities to divest certain assets in the those jurisdictions.