Linde, Praxair Win U.S. Antitrust Nod to Create Gas Giant (3)

Linde AG and Praxair Inc. won approval from the U.S. antitrust enforcers for their $46 billion merger, paving the way for the companies’ two-year bid to create the world’s largest supplier of industrial gases.

The Federal Trade Commission said Monday it approved the deal on the condition that Linde and Praxair sell assets to resolve concerns that the combination would otherwise hurt competition.

The disposals pushed Linde to lower its outlook for cost savings from the tie up, pledging between $1.1 billion and $1.2 billion over three years compared with $1.2 billion previously, according to a statement. It ...