Linde gets 90 percent shareholder backing for Praxair merger

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Industrial gases group Linde (LING.DE) said on Friday it had received approval from 90 percent of its shareholders for its planned $80 billion (£60.02 billion) tie-up with Praxair (PX.N).

If the merger completes, Linde would be in a position to initiate a so-called squeeze-out of minority shareholders under German law, Linde said in an update on the merger as required under stock exchange rules.

It said that no decision with respect to such a squeeze-out had yet been taken. The deal is subject to regulatory approvals.

(Reporting by Douglas Busvine; Editing by Susan Fenton)