In the year following the acquisition of the British BOC Group, we have transformed The Linde Group into a world-leading international gases and plant construction group, while at the same time strengthening our operating business. On a comparable basis, Group sales increased by 13.9 percent in the 2007 financial year to EUR 12.306bn (2006: EUR 10.803bn). Group operating profit rose at a faster rate than sales, by 18.1 percent to EUR 2.424bn (2006: EUR 2.053bn).

Group sales and Group operating profit (in € million)