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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

DATE OF REPORT (Date of earliest event reported): February 6, 2024

 

Linde plc

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Ireland

 

001-38730

 

98-1448883

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

10 Riverview Dr.

Forge, 43 Church Street West

Danbury, Connecticut

Woking, Surrey GU21 6HT

United States 06810

United Kingdom

 

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

+44 1483 242200

(Registrant’s telephone numbers, including area code)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Ordinary shares (€0.001 nominal value per share)

 

LIN

 

Nasdaq Stock Exchange

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 






 

ITEM 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition

 

On February 6, 2024, Linde plc issued a press release setting forth Linde plc’s results of operations for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2023. A copy of Linde plc’s press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is hereby incorporated by reference in this Item 2.02.

 

ITEM 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits. The following exhibit is furnished herewith pursuant to Item 2.02 hereof:

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press Release dated February 6, 2024

 

 

 

104

 

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

 

2

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

LINDE PLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kelcey E. Hoyt

 

 

Name:

Kelcey E. Hoyt

 

 

Title:

Principal Accounting Officer

 

 

Date: February 6, 2024

 

 

3

 

EX-99.1 2 linde_ex991.htm PRESS RELEASE linde_ex991.htm

EXHIBIT 99.1

 

 

Linde Reports Full-Year and Fourth-Quarter 2023 Results

 

Full-Year Highlights

 

 

Sales $32.9 billion, down 2%, underlying sales up 5%

 

Operating profit $8.0 billion; adjusted operating profit $9.1 billion, up 15%

 

Operating profit margin 24.4%; adjusted operating profit margin 27.6%, up 390 basis points versus prior year

 

EPS $12.59; adjusted EPS $14.20, up 16%

 

Returned $6.4 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases

 

Total project backlog of $8.5 billion

 

Fourth-Quarter Highlights

 

 

Sales $8.3 billion, up 5% YoY, underlying sales up 4%

 

Operating profit $2.0 billion, adjusted operating profit $2.3 billion, up 14%

 

Operating profit margin 24.4%; adjusted operating profit margin 27.4%, YoY up 210 basis points

 

EPS $3.16, up 18%; adjusted EPS $3.59, up 14%

 

2024 Guidance

 

 

First-quarter 2024 adjusted EPS guidance $3.58 - $3.68, represents 6%-9% growth ex. FX

 

Full-year 2024 adjusted EPS guidance $15.25 - $15.65, represents 8%-11% growth ex. FX

 

Woking, UK, February 6, 2024 – Linde plc (Nasdaq: LIN) today reported fourth-quarter 2023 net income of $1,543 million and diluted earnings per share of $3.16, up 16% and 18% respectively.  Excluding Linde AG purchase accounting impacts and other charges, adjusted net income was $1,753 million, up 11% versus prior year.  Adjusted earnings per share was $3.59, 14% above prior year.

 

Linde’s sales for the fourth quarter were $8,302 million, 5% above prior year or 3% above when excluding positive currency impact.  Compared to prior year, underlying sales increased 4% from price attainment and flat volumes.

 

Fourth-quarter operating profit was $2,028 million.  Adjusted operating profit of $2,272 million was up 14% versus prior year led by higher price and continued productivity initiatives across all segments.  Adjusted operating profit margin of 27.4% was 210 basis points above prior year or 130 basis points higher when excluding the effects of cost pass-through. 

 

Fourth-quarter operating cash flow of $2,727 million increased 30% versus prior year driven primarily by higher earnings and better working capital.  After capital expenditures of $1,151 million, free cash flow was $1,576 million.  During the quarter, the company returned $1,641 million to shareholders through dividends and stock repurchases, net of issuances.

 

For full-year 2023, sales were $32.9 billion, 2% below 2022.  Compared to prior year, underlying sales increased 5% from 6% price attainment partially offset by 1% lower volumes.   Operating profit was $8.0 billion and adjusted operating profit was $9.1 billion, 15% above prior year.  Adjusted operating profit margin was 27.6% of sales, 390 basis points higher versus 2022, or 310 basis points higher when excluding the effects of cost pass-through.  Diluted earnings per share were $12.59 and adjusted diluted earnings per share were $14.20, up 16% versus prior year.

 

 
Page 14 of 1

 

 

 

In 2023, Linde generated strong operating cash flow of $9.3 billion.  The company invested $3.8 billion in capital expenditures and returned $6.4 billion to shareholders in the form of dividends and share buybacks.

 

Commenting on the financial results and business outlook, Chief Executive Officer Sanjiv Lamba said, “Despite the challenging environment in 2023, the Linde team once again delivered industry leading results including a 25.4% ROC, 27.6% operating margin and EPS growth rate of 16%.  In addition, we closed the year with a strong balance sheet and a high-quality project backlog of $8.5 billion which will contribute earnings growth for years to come.”

 

Lamba continued, “Looking ahead, the geopolitical and macro environment remain uncertain.  However, we are well positioned to win more than our fair share of high-quality projects and again create shareholder value by leveraging all of the opportunities that lie ahead.” 

 

For the full year 2024, the company expects adjusted diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $15.25 to $15.65, up 7% to 10% versus prior year or 8% to 11% when excluding estimated currency headwinds.  Full-year capital expenditures are expected to range between $4.5 billion and $5.0 billion to support operating and growth requirements, including the contractual sale of gas backlog.  For the first quarter 2024, adjusted earnings per share is expected to be in the range of $3.58 to $3.68, 5% to 8% above prior-year quarter.  This range assumes 1% unfavorable currency.

 

Fourth-Quarter 2023 Results by Segment

 

Americas sales of $3,583 million grew 5% versus prior-year quarter.  Compared with fourth quarter 2022, underlying sales increased 6% driven by 5% higher pricing and 1% volumes.  Operating profit of $1,075 million was 30.0% of sales, 240 basis points above prior year and 100 basis points higher when excluding the effects of cost pass-through. 

 

APAC (Asia Pacific) sales of $1,639 million were 5% above prior year.  Compared to prior year, underlying sales grew 5% driven by 2% price attainment and 3% volume growth, primarily in the chemicals and energy end markets including project start-ups.  Operating profit of $452 million was 27.6% of sales, 110 basis points above prior year.  Year over year cost pass-through was immaterial.

 

EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) sales of $2,100 million were up 4% versus prior year.  Compared with fourth-quarter 2022, underlying sales grew 2%, driven by 6% higher pricing partially offset by 4% lower volumes.  Operating profit of $615 million was 29.3% of sales, 420 basis points above prior year and 350 basis points higher when excluding the effects of cost pass-through. 

 

Linde Engineering sales were $658 million, 17% above prior year, and operating profit was $119 million or 18.1% of sales.  Order intake for the quarter was $567 million and third-party sale of equipment backlog was $3.6 billion.

 

Earnings Call

A teleconference on Linde’s fourth-quarter 2023 results is being held today at 9:00 am EST. 

 

Live conference call

US Toll-Free Dial-In Number: 1 888 770 7292

UK Toll-Free Dial-In Number: 0800 358 0970

Access code: 6877110

Live webcast (listen-only)

https://investors.linde.com/events-presentations

 

 
Page 14 of 2

 

 

 

Materials to be used in the teleconference are also available on the website.

 

About Linde

Linde is a leading global industrial gases and engineering company with 2023 sales of $33 billion. We live our mission of making our world more productive every day by providing high-quality solutions, technologies and services which are making our customers more successful and helping to sustain, decarbonize and protect our planet.

 

The company serves a variety of end markets such as chemicals & energy, food & beverage, electronics, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and mining. Linde's industrial gases and technologies are used in countless applications including production of clean hydrogen and carbon capture systems critical to the energy transition, life-saving medical oxygen and high-purity & specialty gases for electronics. Linde also delivers state-of-the-art gas processing solutions to support customer expansion, efficiency improvements and emissions reductions.

 

For more information about the company and its products and services, please visit www.linde.com

 

Adjusted amounts, free cash flow and return on capital are non-GAAP measures. See the attachments for a summary of non-GAAP reconciliations and calculations for adjusted amounts.

 

Attachments: Summary Non-GAAP Reconciliations, Statements of Income, Balance Sheets, Statements of Cash Flows, Segment Information and Appendix: Non-GAAP Measures and Reconciliations.

 

*Note: We are providing adjusted earnings per share (“EPS”) guidance for 2024. This is a non-GAAP financial measure that represents diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (a GAAP measure) but excludes the impact of certain items that we believe are not representative of our underlying business performance, such as cost reduction and other charges, the impact of potential divestitures or other potentially significant items. Given the uncertainty of timing and magnitude of such items, we cannot provide a reconciliation of the differences between the non-GAAP adjusted EPS guidance and the corresponding GAAP EPS measure without unreasonable effort.

 

Forward-looking Statements

This document contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are identified by terms and phrases such as: anticipate, believe, intend, estimate, expect, continue, should, could, may, plan, project, predict, will, potential, forecast, and similar expressions. They are based on management’s reasonable expectations and assumptions as of the date the statements are made but involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: the performance of stock markets generally; developments in worldwide and national economies and other international events and circumstances, including trade conflicts and tariffs; changes in foreign currencies and in interest rates; the cost and availability of electric power, natural gas and other raw materials; the ability to achieve price increases to offset cost increases; catastrophic events including natural disasters, epidemics, pandemics such as COVID-19, and acts of war and terrorism; the ability to attract, hire, and retain qualified personnel; the impact of changes in financial accounting standards; the impact of changes in pension plan liabilities; the impact of tax, environmental, healthcare and other legislation and government regulation in jurisdictions in which the company operates; the cost and outcomes of investigations, litigation and regulatory proceedings; the impact of potential unusual or non-recurring items; continued timely development and market acceptance of new products and applications; the impact of competitive products and pricing; future financial and operating performance of major customers and industries served; the impact of information technology system failures, network disruptions and breaches in data security; and the effectiveness and speed of integrating new acquisitions into the business. These risks and uncertainties may cause future results or circumstances to differ materially from adjusted projections, estimates or other forward-looking statements.

 

Linde plc assumes no obligation to update or provide revisions to any forward-looking statement in response to changing circumstances. The above listed risks and uncertainties are further described in Item 1A. Risk Factors in Linde plc’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the SEC on February 28, 2023, which should be reviewed carefully. Please consider Linde plc’s forward-looking statements in light of those risks.

 

 
Page 14 of 3

 

 

 

LINDE PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

SUMMARY NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS

(UNAUDITED)

 

The following adjusted amounts are Non-GAAP measures and are intended to supplement investors' understanding of the company's financial statements by providing measures which investors, financial analysts and management use to help evaluate the company's operating performance. Items which the company does not believe to be indicative of ongoing business trends are excluded from these calculations so that investors can better evaluate and analyze historical and future business trends on a consistent basis. Definitions of these Non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similar definitions used by other companies and are not a substitute for similar GAAP measures. See the "NON GAAP MEASURES AND RECONCILIATIONS" starting on page 9 for additional details relating to the adjustments.

 

(Millions of dollars, except per share amounts)

 

Sales

 

 

Operating Profit

 

 

Net Income

 

 

Diluted EPS

 

Quarter Ended December 31

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Reported GAAP Amounts

 

$ 8,302

 

 

$ 7,899

 

 

$ 2,028

 

 

$ 1,687

 

 

$ 1,543

 

 

$ 1,328

 

 

$ 3.16

 

 

$ 2.67

 

Other charges (a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2 )

 

 

25

 

 

 

(4 )

 

 

16

 

 

 

(0.01 )

 

 

0.03

 

Pension settlement charges (b)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.01

 

 

 

 

Purchase accounting impacts - Linde AG (c)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

246

 

 

 

289

 

 

 

211

 

 

 

230

 

 

 

0.43

 

 

 

0.46

 

Total adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

244

 

 

 

314

 

 

 

210

 

 

 

246

 

 

 

0.43

 

 

 

0.49

 

Adjusted amounts

 

$ 8,302

 

 

$ 7,899

 

 

$ 2,272

 

 

$ 2,001

 

 

$ 1,753

 

 

$ 1,574

 

 

$ 3.59

 

 

$ 3.16

 

 

(Millions of dollars, except per share amounts)

 

Sales

 

 

Operating Profit

 

 

Net Income

 

 

Diluted EPS

 

Year to Date December 31

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Reported GAAP Amounts

 

$ 32,854

 

 

$ 33,364

 

 

$ 8,024

 

 

$ 5,369

 

 

$ 6,199

 

 

$ 4,147

 

 

$ 12.59

 

 

$ 8.23

 

Other charges (a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

40

 

 

 

1,029

 

 

 

(41 )

 

 

893

 

 

 

(0.08 )

 

 

1.77

 

Pension settlement charges (b)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

0.03

 

 

 

0.01

 

Purchase accounting impacts - Linde AG (c)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,006

 

 

 

1,506

 

 

 

818

 

 

 

1,150

 

 

 

1.66

 

 

 

2.28

 

Total adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,046

 

 

 

2,535

 

 

 

790

 

 

 

2,048

 

 

 

1.61

 

 

 

4.06

 

Adjusted amounts

 

$ 32,854

 

 

$ 33,364

 

 

$ 9,070

 

 

$ 7,904

 

 

$ 6,989

 

 

$ 6,195

 

 

$ 14.20

 

 

$ 12.29

 

 

(a) 2023 year to date charges related primarily to severance and delist charges, which were offset by a tax settlement. 2022 year to date charges related primarily to charges associated with the deconsolidation and impairment of Russian subsidiaries resulting from the ongoing war in Ukraine and related sanctions.

 

(b) To adjust for pension settlement charges.

 

(c) To adjust for purchase accounting impacts related to the merger.

 

 
Page 14 of 4

 

 

LINDE PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

Quarter Ended December 31,

 

 

Year To Date December 31,

 

(Millions of dollars, except per share data)

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Sales

 

$ 8,302

 

 

$ 7,899

 

 

$ 32,854

 

 

$ 33,364

 

Cost of sales

 

 

4,431

 

 

 

4,427

 

 

 

17,492

 

 

 

19,450

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

 

832

 

 

 

764

 

 

 

3,295

 

 

 

3,107

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

949

 

 

 

956

 

 

 

3,816

 

 

 

4,204

 

Research and development

 

 

39

 

 

 

36

 

 

 

146

 

 

 

143

 

Other charges

 

 

(2 )

 

 

25

 

 

 

40

 

 

 

1,029

 

Other income (expense) - net

 

 

(25 )

 

 

(4 )

 

 

(41 )

 

 

(62 )

Operating Profit

 

 

2,028

 

 

 

1,687

 

 

 

8,024

 

 

 

5,369

 

Interest expense - net

 

 

71

 

 

 

31

 

 

 

200

 

 

 

63

 

Net pension and OPEB cost (benefit), excluding service cost

 

 

(39 )

 

 

(58 )

 

 

(164 )

 

 

(237 )

Income Before Income Taxes and Equity Investments

 

 

1,996

 

 

 

1,714

 

 

 

7,988

 

 

 

5,543

 

Income taxes

 

 

459

 

 

 

388

 

 

 

1,814

 

 

 

1,434

 

Income Before Equity Investments

 

 

1,537

 

 

 

1,326

 

 

 

6,174

 

 

 

4,109

 

Income from equity investments

 

 

39

 

 

 

35

 

 

 

167

 

 

 

172

 

Income (Including Noncontrolling Interests)

 

 

1,576

 

 

 

1,361

 

 

 

6,341

 

 

 

4,281

 

Less: noncontrolling interests

 

 

(33 )

 

 

(33 )

 

 

(142 )

 

 

(134 )

Net Income – Linde plc

 

$ 1,543

 

 

$ 1,328

 

 

$ 6,199

 

 

$ 4,147

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Per Share Data – Linde plc Shareholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

$ 3.19

 

 

$ 2.69

 

 

$ 12.70

 

 

$ 8.30

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

$ 3.16

 

 

$ 2.67

 

 

$ 12.59

 

 

$ 8.23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash dividends

 

$ 1.275

 

 

$ 1.17

 

 

$ 5.10

 

 

$ 4.68

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (000’s):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic shares outstanding (000's)

 

 

484,229

 

 

 

493,652

 

 

 

488,191

 

 

 

499,736

 

Diluted shares outstanding (000's)

 

 

488,249

 

 

 

497,922

 

 

 

492,290

 

 

 

504,038

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note:  See page 9 for a reconciliation to adjusted amounts which are Non-GAAP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Page 14 of 5

 

 

LINDE PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

(Millions of dollars)

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$ 4,664

 

 

$ 5,436

 

Accounts receivable - net

 

 

4,718

 

 

 

4,559

 

Contract assets

 

 

196

 

 

 

124

 

Inventories

 

 

2,115

 

 

 

1,978

 

Prepaid and other current assets

 

 

927

 

 

 

950

 

Total Current Assets

 

 

12,620

 

 

 

13,047

 

Property, plant and equipment - net

 

 

24,552

 

 

 

23,548

 

Goodwill

 

 

26,751

 

 

 

25,817

 

Other intangibles - net

 

 

12,399

 

 

 

12,420

 

Other long-term assets

 

 

4,489

 

 

 

4,826

 

Total Assets

 

$ 80,811

 

 

$ 79,658

 

Liabilities and equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$ 3,020

 

 

$ 2,995

 

Short-term debt

 

 

4,713

 

 

 

4,117

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

 

1,263

 

 

 

1,599

 

Contract liabilities

 

 

1,901

 

 

 

3,073

 

Other current liabilities

 

 

4,820

 

 

 

4,695

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

 

15,717

 

 

 

16,479

 

Long-term debt

 

 

13,397

 

 

 

12,198

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

10,602

 

 

 

9,594

 

Total Liabilities

 

$ 39,716

 

 

$ 38,271

 

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

 

13

 

 

 

13

 

Linde plc Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ordinary shares

 

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

39,812

 

 

 

40,005

 

Retained earnings (a)

 

 

8,845

 

 

 

20,541

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

(5,805 )

 

 

(5,782 )

Less: Treasury shares, at cost (a)

 

 

(3,133 )

 

 

(14,737 )

Total Linde plc Shareholders' Equity

 

 

39,720

 

 

 

40,028

 

Noncontrolling interests

 

 

1,362

 

 

 

1,346

 

Total Equity

 

$ 41,082

 

 

$ 41,374

 

Total Liabilities and Equity

 

$ 80,811

 

 

$ 79,658

 

 

 (a) As a result of delisting from the Frankfurt Stock Exchange during March of 2023,  Linde plc's historical treasury shares were immediately canceled which resulted in an approximately $15 billion decrease in treasury shares and retained earnings in Shareholders' Equity.

 

 
Page 14 of 6

 

 

LINDE PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

Quarter Ended December 31,

 

 

Year to Date December 31,

 

(Millions of dollars)

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income - Linde plc

 

$ 1,543

 

 

$ 1,328

 

 

$ 6,199

 

 

$ 4,147

 

Add: noncontrolling interests

 

 

33

 

 

 

33

 

 

 

142

 

 

 

134

 

Net income (including noncontrolling interests)

 

 

1,576

 

 

 

1,361

 

 

 

6,341

 

 

 

4,281

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other charges, net of payments (a)

 

 

(27 )

 

 

(7 )

 

 

(118 )

 

 

902

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

949

 

 

 

956

 

 

 

3,816

 

 

 

4,204

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

83

 

 

 

149

 

 

 

(86 )

 

 

(423 )

Contract assets and liabilities, net

 

 

(164 )

 

 

(59 )

 

 

(168 )

 

 

310

 

Inventory

 

 

(2 )

 

 

(47 )

 

 

(127 )

 

 

(347 )

Payables and accruals

 

 

100

 

 

 

(69 )

 

 

(168 )

 

 

307

 

Pension contributions

 

 

(11 )

 

 

(7 )

 

 

(46 )

 

 

(51 )

Deferred income taxes and other

 

 

223

 

 

 

(182 )

 

 

(139 )

 

 

(319 )

Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities

 

 

2,727

 

 

 

2,095

 

 

 

9,305

 

 

 

8,864

 

Investing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

(1,151 )

 

 

(936 )

 

 

(3,787 )

 

 

(3,173 )

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

 

 

(111 )

 

 

 

 

 

(953 )

 

 

(110 )

Divestitures, net of cash divested and asset sales

 

 

36

 

 

 

55

 

 

 

70

 

 

 

195

 

Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities

 

 

(1,226 )

 

 

(881 )

 

 

(4,670 )

 

 

(3,088 )

Financing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt increase (decrease) - net

 

 

833

 

 

 

1,680

 

 

 

1,060

 

 

 

4,475

 

Issuances of ordinary shares

 

 

8

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

33

 

 

 

36

 

Purchases of ordinary shares

 

 

(1,033 )

 

 

(690 )

 

 

(3,958 )

 

 

(5,168 )

Cash dividends - Linde plc shareholders

 

 

(616 )

 

 

(586 )

 

 

(2,482 )

 

 

(2,344 )

Noncontrolling interest transactions and other

 

 

28

 

 

 

(26 )

 

 

(53 )

 

 

(88 )

Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities

 

 

(780 )

 

 

390

 

 

 

(5,400 )

 

 

(3,089 )

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

 

49

 

 

 

76

 

 

 

(7 )

 

 

(74 )

Change in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

770

 

 

 

1,680

 

 

 

(772 )

 

 

2,613

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning-of-period

 

 

3,894

 

 

 

3,756

 

 

 

5,436

 

 

 

2,823

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end-of-period

 

$ 4,664

 

 

$ 5,436

 

 

$ 4,664

 

 

$ 5,436

 

 

(a)  Other charges were a benefit of $2 million and a charge of $25 million for the quarters ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and charges of $40 million and $1,029 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Related cash outflows were $25 million and $32 million for the quarters ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $158 million and $127 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

 

 
Page 14 of 7

 

 

LINDE PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

SEGMENT INFORMATION

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

Quarter Ended December 31,

 

 

Year to Date December 31,

 

(Millions of dollars)

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Americas

 

$ 3,583

 

 

$ 3,421

 

 

$ 14,304

 

 

$ 13,874

 

EMEA

 

 

2,100

 

 

 

2,026

 

 

 

8,542

 

 

 

8,443

 

APAC

 

 

1,639

 

 

 

1,567

 

 

 

6,559

 

 

 

6,480

 

Engineering

 

 

658

 

 

 

562

 

 

 

2,160

 

 

 

2,762

 

Other

 

 

322

 

 

 

323

 

 

 

1,289

 

 

 

1,805

 

Total segment sales

 

$ 8,302

 

 

$ 7,899

 

 

$ 32,854

 

 

$ 33,364

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Profit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Americas

 

$ 1,075

 

 

$ 944

 

 

$ 4,244

 

 

$ 3,732

 

EMEA

 

 

615

 

 

 

509

 

 

 

2,486

 

 

 

2,013

 

APAC

 

 

452

 

 

 

416

 

 

 

1,806

 

 

 

1,670

 

Engineering

 

 

119

 

 

 

157

 

 

 

491

 

 

 

555

 

Other

 

 

11

 

 

 

(25 )

 

 

43

 

 

 

(66 )

Segment operating profit

 

 

2,272

 

 

 

2,001

 

 

 

9,070

 

 

 

7,904

 

Other charges

 

 

2

 

 

 

(25 )

 

 

(40 )

 

 

(1,029 )

Purchase accounting impacts - Linde AG

 

 

(246 )

 

 

(289 )

 

 

(1,006 )

 

 

(1,506 )

Total operating profit

 

$ 2,028

 

 

$ 1,687

 

 

$ 8,024

 

 

$ 5,369

 

 

 
Page 14 of 8

 

 

LINDE PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

APPENDIX

NON-GAAP MEASURES AND RECONCILIATIONS

(UNAUDITED)

 

The following Non-GAAP measures are intended to supplement investors’ understanding of the company’s financial information by providing measures which investors, financial analysts and management use to help evaluate the company’s operating performance and liquidity.  Items which the company does not believe to be indicative of on-going business trends are excluded from these calculations so that investors can better evaluate and analyze historical and future business trends on a consistent basis.  Definitions of these Non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similar definitions used by other companies and are not a substitute for similar GAAP measures.

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

(Millions of dollars)

 

Year to Date December 31,

 

 

Q4

 

 

Q3

 

 

Q2

 

 

Q1

 

 

Year to Date December 31,

 

 

Q4

 

 

Q3

 

 

Q2

 

 

Q1

 

Adjusted Operating Profit and Operating Margin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported operating profit

 

$ 8,024

 

 

$ 2,028

 

 

$ 2,052

 

 

$ 2,011

 

 

$ 1,933

 

 

$ 5,369

 

 

$ 1,687

 

 

$ 1,613

 

 

$ 589

 

 

$ 1,480

 

Add: Other charges (a)

 

 

40

 

 

 

(2 )

 

 

2

 

 

 

22

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

1,029

 

 

 

25

 

 

 

15

 

 

 

993

 

 

 

(4 )

Add: Purchase accounting impacts - Linde AG (c)

 

 

1,006

 

 

 

246

 

 

 

252

 

 

 

253

 

 

 

255

 

 

 

1,506

 

 

 

289

 

 

 

382

 

 

 

406

 

 

 

429

 

Total adjustments

 

 

1,046

 

 

 

244

 

 

 

254

 

 

 

275

 

 

 

273

 

 

 

2,535

 

 

 

314

 

 

 

397

 

 

 

1,399

 

 

 

425

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

$ 9,070

 

 

$ 2,272

 

 

$ 2,306

 

 

$ 2,286

 

 

$ 2,206

 

 

$ 7,904

 

 

$ 2,001

 

 

$ 2,010

 

 

$ 1,988

 

 

$ 1,905

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported percentage change

 

 

49 %

 

 

20 %

 

 

27 %

 

 

241 %

 

 

31 %

 

 

8 %

 

 

26 %

 

 

25 %

 

 

(48 )%

 

 

22 %

Adjusted percentage change

 

 

15 %

 

 

14 %

 

 

15 %

 

 

15 %

 

 

16 %

 

 

10 %

 

 

9 %

 

 

11 %

 

 

8 %

 

 

13 %

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported sales

 

$ 32,854

 

 

$ 8,302

 

 

$ 8,155

 

 

$ 8,204

 

 

$ 8,193

 

 

$ 33,364

 

 

$ 7,899

 

 

$ 8,797

 

 

$ 8,457

 

 

$ 8,211

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported operating margin

 

 

24.4 %

 

 

24.4 %

 

 

25.2 %

 

 

24.5 %

 

 

23.6 %

 

 

16.1 %

 

 

21.4 %

 

 

18.3 %

 

 

7.0 %

 

 

18.0 %

Adjusted operating margin

 

 

27.6 %

 

 

27.4 %

 

 

28.3 %

 

 

27.9 %

 

 

26.9 %

 

 

23.7 %

 

 

25.3 %

 

 

22.8 %

 

 

23.5 %

 

 

23.2 %

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted Depreciation and amortization

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported depreciation and amortization

 

$ 3,816

 

 

$ 949

 

 

$ 959

 

 

$ 960

 

 

$ 948

 

 

$ 4,204

 

 

$ 956

 

 

$ 1,045

 

 

$ 1,091

 

 

$ 1,112

 

Less: Purchase accounting impacts - Linde AG (c)

 

 

(991 )

 

 

(241 )

 

 

(249 )

 

 

(251 )

 

 

(250 )

 

 

(1,481 )

 

 

(285 )

 

 

(377 )

 

 

(401 )

 

 

(418 )

Adjusted depreciation and amortization

 

$ 2,825

 

 

$ 708

 

 

$ 710

 

 

$ 709

 

 

$ 698

 

 

$ 2,723

 

 

$ 671

 

 

$ 668

 

 

$ 690

 

 

$ 694

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted Other Income (Expense) - net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported Other Income (Expense) - net

 

$ (41 )

 

$ (25 )

 

$ 16

 

 

$ (27 )

 

$ (5 )

 

$ (62 )

 

$ (4 )

 

$ (34 )

 

$ (36 )

 

$ 12

 

Add: Purchase accounting impacts - Linde AG (c)

 

 

(15 )

 

 

(5 )

 

 

(3 )

 

 

(2 )

 

 

(5 )

 

 

(25 )

 

 

(4 )

 

 

(5 )

 

 

(5 )

 

 

(11 )

Adjusted Other Income (Expense) - net

 

$ (26 )

 

$ (20 )

 

$ 19

 

 

$ (25 )

 

$

 

 

$ (37 )

 

$

 

 

$ (29 )

 

$ (31 )

 

$ 23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted Net Pension and OPEB Cost (Benefit), Excluding Service Cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported net pension and OPEB cost (benefit), excluding service cost

 

$ (164 )

 

$ (39 )

 

$ (35 )

 

$ (45 )

 

$ (45 )

 

$ (237 )

 

$ (58 )

 

$ (53 )

 

$ (62 )

 

$ (64 )

Add: Pension settlement charges

 

 

(16 )

 

 

(4 )

 

 

(12 )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6 )

 

 

 

 

 

(6 )

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted Net Pension and OPEB cost (benefit), excluding service costs

 

$ (180 )

 

$ (43 )

 

$ (47 )

 

$ (45 )

 

$ (45 )

 

$ (243 )

 

$ (58 )

 

$ (59 )

 

$ (62 )

 

$ (64 )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted Interest Expense - Net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported interest expense - net

 

$ 200

 

 

$ 71

 

 

$ 40

 

 

$ 52

 

 

$ 37

 

 

$ 63

 

 

$ 31

 

 

$ 18

 

 

$ 5

 

 

$ 9

 

Add: Purchase accounting impacts - Linde AG (c)

 

 

16

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

35

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

10

 

Adjusted interest expense - net

 

$ 216

 

 

$ 72

 

 

$ 42

 

 

$ 56

 

 

$ 46

 

 

$ 98

 

 

$ 39

 

 

$ 26

 

 

$ 14

 

 

$ 19

 

 

 
Page 14 of 9

 

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

(Millions of dollars)

 

Year to Date December 31,

 

 

Q4

 

 

Q3

 

 

Q2

 

 

Q1

 

 

Year to Date December 31,

 

 

Q4

 

 

Q3

 

 

Q2

 

 

Q1

 

Adjusted Income Taxes (a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported income taxes

 

$ 1,814

 

 

$ 459

 

 

$ 487

 

 

$ 438

 

 

$ 430

 

 

$ 1,434

 

 

$ 388

 

 

$ 391

 

 

$ 286

 

 

$ 369

 

Add: Purchase accounting impacts - Linde AG (c)

 

 

232

 

 

 

49

 

 

 

59

 

 

 

67

 

 

 

57

 

 

 

374

 

 

 

66

 

 

 

92

 

 

 

108

 

 

 

108

 

Add: Pension settlement charges

 

 

3

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add: Other charges (a)

 

 

81

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

34

 

 

 

45

 

 

 

136

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

26

 

 

 

104

 

 

 

(3 )

Total adjustments

 

 

316

 

 

 

52

 

 

 

61

 

 

 

101

 

 

 

102

 

 

 

511

 

 

 

75

 

 

 

119

 

 

 

212

 

 

 

105

 

Adjusted income taxes

 

$ 2,130

 

 

$ 511

 

 

$ 548

 

 

$ 539

 

 

$ 532

 

 

$ 1,945

 

 

$ 463

 

 

$ 510

 

 

$ 498

 

 

$ 474

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted Effective Tax Rate (a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported income before income taxes and equity investments

 

$ 7,988

 

 

$ 1,996

 

 

$ 2,047

 

 

$ 2,004

 

 

$ 1,941

 

 

$ 5,543

 

 

$ 1,714

 

 

$ 1,648

 

 

$ 646

 

 

$ 1,535

 

Add: Pension settlement charge

 

 

16

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add: Purchase accounting impacts - Linde AG (c)

 

 

990

 

 

 

245

 

 

 

250

 

 

 

249

 

 

 

246

 

 

 

1,471

 

 

 

281

 

 

 

374

 

 

 

397

 

 

 

419

 

Add: Other charges (a)

 

 

40

 

 

 

(2 )

 

 

2

 

 

 

22

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

1,029

 

 

 

25

 

 

 

15

 

 

 

993

 

 

 

(4 )

Total adjustments

 

 

1,046

 

 

 

247

 

 

 

264

 

 

 

271

 

 

 

264

 

 

 

2,506

 

 

 

306

 

 

 

395

 

 

 

1,390

 

 

 

415

 

Adjusted income before income taxes and equity investments

 

$ 9,034

 

 

$ 2,243

 

 

$ 2,311

 

 

$ 2,275

 

 

$ 2,205

 

 

$ 8,049

 

 

$ 2,020

 

 

$ 2,043

 

 

$ 2,036

 

 

$ 1,950

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported Income taxes

 

$ 1,814

 

 

$ 459

 

 

$ 487

 

 

$ 438

 

 

$ 430

 

 

$ 1,434

 

 

$ 388

 

 

$ 391

 

 

$ 286

 

 

$ 369

 

Reported effective tax rate

 

 

22.7 %

 

 

23.0 %

 

 

23.8 %

 

 

21.9 %

 

 

22.2 %

 

 

25.9

%

 

22.6

%

 

 

23.7 %

 

 

44.3 %

 

 

24.0 %

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted income taxes

 

$ 2,130

 

 

$ 511

 

 

$ 548

 

 

$ 539

 

 

$ 532

 

 

$ 1,945

 

 

$ 463

 

 

$ 510

 

 

$ 498

 

 

$ 474

 

Adjusted effective tax rate

 

 

23.6 %

 

 

22.8 %

 

 

23.7 %

 

 

23.7 %

 

 

24.1 %

 

 

24.2 %

 

 

22.9 %

 

 

25.0 %

 

 

24.5 %

 

 

24.3 %

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from Equity Investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported income from equity investments

 

$ 167

 

 

$ 39

 

 

$ 41

 

 

$ 46

 

 

$ 41

 

 

$ 172

 

 

$ 35

 

 

$ 43

 

 

$ 50

 

 

$ 44

 

Add: Purchase accounting impacts - Linde AG (c)

 

 

72

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

75

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

19

 

 

 

20

 

Total adjustments

 

 

72

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

75

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

19

 

 

 

20

 

Adjusted income from equity investments

 

$ 239

 

 

$ 57

 

 

$ 59

 

 

$ 64

 

 

$ 59

 

 

$ 247

 

 

$ 53

 

 

$ 61

 

 

$ 69

 

 

$ 64

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted Noncontrolling Interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported noncontrolling interests

 

$ (142 )

 

$ (33 )

 

$ (36 )

 

$ (37 )

 

$ (36 )

 

$ (134 )

 

$ (33 )

 

$ (27 )

 

$ (38 )

 

$ (36 )

Add: Purchase accounting impacts - Linde AG (c)

 

 

(12 )

 

 

(3 )

 

 

(3 )

 

 

(3 )

 

 

(3 )

 

 

(22 )

 

 

(3 )

 

 

(12 )

 

 

(3 )

 

 

(4 )

Adjusted noncontrolling interests

 

$ (154 )

 

$ (36 )

 

$ (39 )

 

$ (40 )

 

$ (39 )

 

$ (156 )

 

$ (36 )

 

$ (39 )

 

$ (41 )

 

$ (40 )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted Net Income - Linde plc (b)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported net income

 

$ 6,199

 

 

$ 1,543

 

 

$ 1,565

 

 

$ 1,575

 

 

$ 1,516

 

 

$ 4,147

 

 

$ 1,328

 

 

$ 1,273

 

 

$ 372

 

 

$ 1,174

 

Add: Pension settlement charge

 

 

13

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add: Other charges (a)

 

 

(41 )

 

 

(4 )

 

 

2

 

 

 

(12 )

 

 

(27 )

 

 

893

 

 

 

16

 

 

 

(11 )

 

 

889

 

 

 

(1 )

Add: Purchase accounting impacts - Linde AG (c)

 

 

818

 

 

 

211

 

 

 

206

 

 

 

197

 

 

 

204

 

 

 

1,150

 

 

 

230

 

 

 

288

 

 

 

305

 

 

 

327

 

Total adjustments

 

 

790

 

 

 

210

 

 

 

218

 

 

 

185

 

 

 

177

 

 

 

2,048

 

 

 

246

 

 

 

282

 

 

 

1,194

 

 

 

326

 

Adjusted net income - Linde plc

 

$ 6,989

 

 

$ 1,753

 

 

$ 1,783

 

 

$ 1,760

 

 

$ 1,693

 

 

$ 6,195

 

 

$ 1,574

 

 

$ 1,555

 

 

$ 1,566

 

 

$ 1,500

 

 

 
Page 14 of 10

 

 

 

 

 2023

 

 

 2022

 

(Millions of dollars, except per share data)

 

Year to Date December 31,

 

 

Q4

 

 

Q3

 

 

Q2

 

 

Q1

 

 

Year to Date December 31,

 

 

Q4

 

 

Q3

 

 

Q2

 

 

Q1

 

Adjusted Diluted EPS (b)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported diluted EPS

 

$ 12.59

 

 

$ 3.16

 

 

$ 3.19

 

 

$ 3.19

 

 

$ 3.06

 

 

$ 8.23

 

 

$ 2.67

 

 

$ 2.54

 

 

$ 0.74

 

 

$ 2.30

 

Add: Pension settlement charge

 

 

0.03

 

 

 

0.01

 

 

 

0.02

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.01

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.01

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add: Other charges (a)

 

 

(0.08 )

 

 

(0.01 )

 

 

 

 

 

(0.02 )

 

 

(0.05 )

 

 

1.77

 

 

 

0.03

 

 

 

(0.02 )

 

 

1.76

 

 

 

 

Add: Purchase accounting impacts - Linde AG (c)

 

 

1.66

 

 

 

0.43

 

 

 

0.42

 

 

 

0.40

 

 

 

0.41

 

 

 

2.28

 

 

 

0.46

 

 

 

0.57

 

 

 

0.60

 

 

 

0.63

 

Total adjustments

 

 

1.61

 

 

 

0.43

 

 

 

0.44

 

 

 

0.38

 

 

 

0.36

 

 

 

4.06

 

 

 

0.49

 

 

 

0.56

 

 

 

2.36

 

 

 

0.63

 

Adjusted diluted EPS

 

$ 14.20

 

 

$ 3.59

 

 

$ 3.63

 

 

$ 3.57

 

 

$ 3.42

 

 

$ 12.29

 

 

$ 3.16

 

 

$ 3.10

 

 

$ 3.10

 

 

$ 2.93

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported percentage change

 

 

53 %

 

 

18 %

 

 

26 %

 

 

331 %

 

 

33 %

 

 

12

%

 

35

%

 

 

35 %

 

 

(54 )%

 

 

24 %

Adjusted percentage change

 

 

16 %

 

 

14 %

 

 

17 %

 

 

15 %

 

 

17 %

 

 

15

%

 

14

%

 

 

14 %

 

 

15 %

 

 

18 %

 

 

 

First Quarter 2024

 

 

Full Year 2024

 

Adjusted Diluted EPS Guidance (d)

 

Low End

 

 

High End

 

 

Low End

 

 

High End

 

2024 Adjusted Guidance

 

$ 3.58

 

 

$ 3.68

 

 

$ 15.25

 

 

$ 15.65

 

Adjusted percentage changes versus 2023 adjusted diluted EPS

 

 

5 %

 

 

8 %

 

 

7 %

 

 

10 %

Add: Estimated currency headwind/(tailwind)

 

 

1 %

 

 

1 %

 

 

1 %

 

 

1 %

Adjusted percentage change excluding currency

 

 

6 %

 

 

9 %

 

 

8 %

 

 

11 %

 

Adjusted EBITDA and % of Sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income - Linde plc

 

$ 6,199

 

 

$ 1,543

 

 

$ 1,565

 

 

$ 1,575

 

 

$ 1,516

 

 

$ 4,147

 

 

$ 1,328

 

 

$ 1,273

 

 

$ 372

 

 

$ 1,174

 

Add: Noncontrolling interests

 

 

142

 

 

 

33

 

 

 

36

 

 

 

37

 

 

 

36

 

 

 

134

 

 

 

33

 

 

 

27

 

 

 

38

 

 

 

36

 

Add: Net pension and OPEB cost (benefit), excluding service cost

 

 

(164 )

 

 

(39 )

 

 

(35 )

 

 

(45 )

 

 

(45 )

 

 

(237 )

 

 

(58 )

 

 

(53 )

 

 

(62 )

 

 

(64 )

Add: Interest expense

 

 

200

 

 

 

71

 

 

 

40

 

 

 

52

 

 

 

37

 

 

 

63

 

 

 

31

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

9

 

Add: Income taxes

 

 

1,814

 

 

 

459

 

 

 

487

 

 

 

438

 

 

 

430

 

 

 

1,434

 

 

 

388

 

 

 

391

 

 

 

286

 

 

 

369

 

Add: Depreciation and amortization

 

 

3,816

 

 

 

949

 

 

 

959

 

 

 

960

 

 

 

948

 

 

 

4,204

 

 

 

956

 

 

 

1,045

 

 

 

1,091

 

 

 

1,112

 

EBITDA

 

 

12,007

 

 

 

3,016

 

 

 

3,052

 

 

 

3,017

 

 

 

2,922

 

 

 

9,745

 

 

 

2,678

 

 

 

2,701

 

 

 

1,730

 

 

 

2,636

 

Add: Other charges (a)

 

 

40

 

 

 

(2 )

 

 

2

 

 

 

22

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

1,029

 

 

 

25

 

 

 

15

 

 

 

993

 

 

 

(4 )

Add: Purchase accounting impacts - Linde AG (c)

 

 

86

 

 

 

23

 

 

 

20

 

 

 

20

 

 

 

23

 

 

 

99

 

 

 

22

 

 

 

23

 

 

 

23

 

 

 

31

 

Total adjustments

 

 

126

 

 

 

21

 

 

 

22

 

 

 

42

 

 

 

41

 

 

 

1,128

 

 

 

47

 

 

 

38

 

 

 

1,016

 

 

 

27

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$ 12,133

 

 

$ 3,037

 

 

$ 3,074

 

 

$ 3,059

 

 

$ 2,963

 

 

$ 10,873

 

 

$ 2,725

 

 

$ 2,739

 

 

$ 2,746

 

 

$ 2,663

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported sales

 

$ 32,854

 

 

$ 8,302

 

 

$ 8,155

 

 

$ 8,204

 

 

$ 8,193

 

 

$ 33,364

 

 

$ 7,899

 

 

$ 8,797

 

 

$ 8,457

 

 

$ 8,211

 

% of sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA

 

 

36.5 %

 

 

36.3 %

 

 

37.4 %

 

 

36.8 %

 

 

35.7 %

 

 

29.2 %

 

 

33.9 %

 

 

30.7 %

 

 

20.5 %

 

 

32.1 %

Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

36.9 %

 

 

36.6 %

 

 

37.7 %

 

 

37.3 %

 

 

36.2 %

 

 

32.6 %

 

 

34.5 %

 

 

31.1 %

 

 

32.5 %

 

 

32.4 %

 

(a) The income tax expense (benefit) on the non-GAAP pre-tax adjustments was determined using the applicable tax rates for the jurisdictions that were utilized in calculating the GAAP income tax expense (benefit) and included both current and deferred income tax amounts.

 

(b) Net of income taxes which are shown separately in “Adjusted Income Taxes and Effective Tax Rate”.

 

(c) The company believes that its non-GAAP measures excluding Purchase accounting impacts - Linde AG are useful to investors because:

 

 
Page 14 of 11

 

 

(i) the 2018 business combination was a merger of equals in an all-stock merger transaction, with no cash consideration,

 

(ii) the company is managed on a geographic basis and the results of certain geographies are more heavily impacted by purchase accounting than others, causing results that are not comparable at the reportable segment level, therefore, the impacts of purchasing accounting adjustments to each segment vary and are not comparable within the company and when compared to other companies in similar regions, (iii) business management is evaluated and variable compensation is determined based on results excluding purchase accounting impacts, and;

 

(iv) it is important to investors and analysts to understand the purchase accounting impacts to the financial statements.

A summary of each of the adjustments made for Purchase accounting impacts - Linde AG are as follows:

Adjusted Operating Profit and Margin: The purchase accounting adjustments for the periods presented relate primarily to depreciation and amortization related to the fair value step up of fixed assets and intangible assets (primarily customer related) acquired in the merger and the allocation of fair value step-up for ongoing Linde AG asset disposals (reflected in Other Income/(Expense)).

Adjusted Interest Expense - Net: Relates to the amortization of the fair value of debt acquired in the merger.

Adjusted Income Taxes and Effective Tax Rate: Relates to the current and deferred income tax impact on the adjustments discussed above. The income tax expense (benefit) on the non-GAAP pre-tax adjustments was determined using the applicable tax rates for the jurisdictions that were utilized in calculating the GAAP income tax expense (benefit) and included both current and deferred income tax amounts.

Adjusted Income from Equity Investments: Represents the amortization of increased fair value on equity investments related to depreciable and amortizable assets.

Adjusted Noncontrolling Interests: Represents the noncontrolling interests’ ownership portion of the adjustments described above determined on an entity by entity basis.

 

(d) We are providing adjusted earnings per share (“EPS”) guidance for 2024. This is a non-GAAP financial measure that represents diluted earnings per share (a GAAP measure) but excludes the impact of certain items that we believe are not representative of our underlying business performance, such as cost reduction and other charges and the impact of potential divestitures or other potentially significant items. Given the uncertainty of timing and magnitude of such items, we cannot provide a reconciliation of the differences between the non-GAAP adjusted EPS guidance and the corresponding GAAP EPS measure without unreasonable effort.

 

 
Page 14 of 12

 

 

LINDE PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

APPENDIX

NON-GAAP MEASURES AND RECONCILIATIONS

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

(Millions of dollars)

 

Q4

 

 

Q3

 

 

Q2

 

 

Q1

 

 

Q4

 

 

Q3

 

 

Q2

 

 

Q1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free Cash Flow (FCF) - Free cash flow is a measure used by investors, financial analysts and management to evaluate the ability of a company to pursue opportunities that enhance shareholder value. FCF equals cash flow from operations less capital expenditures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Cash Flow

 

$ 2,727

 

 

$ 2,520

 

 

$ 2,150

 

 

$ 1,908

 

 

$ 2,095

 

 

$ 2,636

 

 

$ 2,133

 

 

$ 2,000

 

Less: Capital Expenditures

 

 

(1,151 )

 

 

(948 )

 

 

(859 )

 

 

(829 )

 

 

(936 )

 

 

(762 )

 

 

(826 )

 

 

(649 )

Free Cash Flow

 

$ 1,576

 

 

$ 1,572

 

 

$ 1,291

 

 

$ 1,079

 

 

$ 1,159

 

 

$ 1,874

 

 

$ 1,307

 

 

$ 1,351

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Debt - Net debt is a financial liquidity metric used by investors, financial analysts and management to evaluate the ability of a company to repay its debt and is calculated as total debt (excluding purchase accounting impacts) less liquid assets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt

 

$ 19,373

 

 

$ 18,003

 

 

$ 17,490

 

 

$ 18,777

 

 

$ 17,914

 

 

$ 15,338

 

 

$ 16,043

 

 

$ 16,456

 

Less: Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(4,664 )

 

 

(3,894 )

 

 

(3,357 )

 

 

(4,962 )

 

 

(5,436 )

 

 

(3,756 )

 

 

(3,655 )

 

 

(4,464 )

Net debt

 

 

14,709

 

 

 

14,109

 

 

 

14,133

 

 

 

13,815

 

 

 

12,478

 

 

 

11,582

 

 

 

12,388

 

 

 

11,992

 

Less: Purchase accounting impacts - Linde AG

 

 

(7 )

 

 

(8 )

 

 

(10 )

 

 

(13 )

 

 

(22 )

 

 

(28 )

 

 

(38 )

 

 

(50 )

Adjusted net debt

 

 

14,702

 

 

 

14,101

 

 

 

14,123

 

 

 

13,802

 

 

 

12,456

 

 

 

11,554

 

 

 

12,350

 

 

 

11,942

 

Adjusted net debt

 

$ 14,702

 

 

$ 14,101

 

 

$ 14,123

 

 

$ 13,802

 

 

$ 12,456

 

 

$ 11,554

 

 

$ 12,350

 

 

$ 11,942

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After-tax Return on Capital and Adjusted After-tax Return on Capital (ROC) - After-tax return on capital is a measure used by investors, financial analysts and management to evaluate the return on net assets employed in the business. ROC measures the after-tax operating profit that the company was able to generate with the investments made by all parties in the business (debt, noncontrolling interests and Linde plc shareholders’ equity).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported net income - Linde plc

 

$ 1,543

 

 

$ 1,565

 

 

$ 1,575

 

 

$ 1,516

 

 

$ 1,328

 

 

$ 1,273

 

 

$ 372

 

 

$ 1,174

 

Add: noncontrolling interests

 

 

33

 

 

 

36

 

 

 

37

 

 

 

36

 

 

 

33

 

 

 

27

 

 

 

38

 

 

 

36

 

Add: interest expense - net

 

 

71

 

 

 

40

 

 

 

52

 

 

 

37

 

 

 

31

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

9

 

Less: tax benefit on interest expense - net *

 

 

(16 )

 

 

(12 )

 

 

(12 )

 

 

(9 )

 

 

(7 )

 

 

(5 )

 

 

(1 )

 

 

(2 )

Reported NOPAT

 

$ 1,631

 

 

$ 1,629

 

 

$ 1,652

 

 

$ 1,580

 

 

$ 1,385

 

 

$ 1,313

 

 

$ 414

 

 

$ 1,217

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted net income - Linde plc

 

$ 1,753

 

 

$ 1,783

 

 

$ 1,760

 

 

$ 1,693

 

 

$ 1,574

 

 

$ 1,555

 

 

$ 1,566

 

 

$ 1,500

 

Add: adjusted noncontrolling interests

 

 

36

 

 

 

39

 

 

 

40

 

 

 

39

 

 

 

36

 

 

 

39

 

 

 

41

 

 

 

40

 

Add: adjusted interest expense - net

 

 

72

 

 

 

42

 

 

 

56

 

 

 

46

 

 

 

39

 

 

 

26

 

 

 

14

 

 

 

19

 

Less: tax benefit on interest expense - net *

 

 

(17 )

 

 

(13 )

 

 

(13 )

 

 

(11 )

 

 

(9 )

 

 

(7 )

 

 

(3 )

 

 

(5 )

Adjusted NOPAT

 

$ 1,844

 

 

$ 1,851

 

 

$ 1,843

 

 

$ 1,767

 

 

$ 1,640

 

 

$ 1,613

 

 

$ 1,618

 

 

$ 1,554

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4-quarter trailing reported NOPAT

 

$ 6,492

 

 

$ 6,246

 

 

$ 5,930

 

 

$ 4,692

 

 

$ 4,329

 

 

$ 4,021

 

 

$ 3,723

 

 

$ 4,198

 

4-quarter trailing adjusted NOPAT

 

$ 7,305

 

 

$ 7,101

 

 

$ 6,863

 

 

$ 6,638

 

 

$ 6,425

 

 

$ 6,281

 

 

$ 6,137

 

 

$ 5,997

 

 

*Tax benefit on interest expense - net is generally presented using the reported effective rate.

 

 
Page 14 of 13

 

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

(Millions of dollars)

 

Q4

 

 

Q3

 

 

Q2

 

 

Q1

 

 

Q4

 

 

Q3

 

 

Q2

 

 

Q1

 

Equity and redeemable noncontrolling interests:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

$ 13

 

 

$ 13

 

 

$ 13

 

 

$ 13

 

 

$ 13

 

 

$ 13

 

 

$ 13

 

 

$ 13

 

Linde plc shareholders' equity

 

 

39,720

 

 

 

38,898

 

 

 

39,911

 

 

 

39,970

 

 

 

40,028

 

 

 

37,628

 

 

 

39,674

 

 

 

42,963

 

Noncontrolling interests

 

 

1,362

 

 

 

1,327

 

 

 

1,324

 

 

 

1,353

 

 

 

1,346

 

 

 

1,298

 

 

 

1,353

 

 

 

1,414

 

Total equity and redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

$ 41,095

 

 

$ 40,238

 

 

$ 41,248

 

 

$ 41,336

 

 

$ 41,387

 

 

$ 38,939

 

 

$ 41,040

 

 

$ 44,390

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported capital

 

$ 55,804

 

 

$ 54,347

 

 

$ 55,381

 

 

$ 55,151

 

 

$ 53,865

 

 

$ 50,521

 

 

$ 53,428

 

 

$ 56,382

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total equity and redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

$ 41,095

 

 

$ 40,238

 

 

$ 41,248

 

 

$ 41,336

 

 

$ 41,387

 

 

$ 38,939

 

 

$ 41,040

 

 

$ 44,390

 

Add: Adjusted net debt

 

 

14,702

 

 

 

14,101

 

 

 

14,123

 

 

 

13,802

 

 

 

12,456

 

 

 

11,554

 

 

 

12,350

 

 

 

11,942

 

Less: Linde AG Goodwill (a)

 

 

24,256

 

 

 

24,256

 

 

 

24,256

 

 

 

24,256

 

 

 

24,256

 

 

 

24,256

 

 

 

24,256

 

 

 

24,256

 

Less: Linde AG Indefinite lived intangibles (a)

 

 

1,868

 

 

 

1,868

 

 

 

1,868

 

 

 

1,868

 

 

 

1,868

 

 

 

1,868

 

 

 

1,868

 

 

 

1,868

 

Adjusted capital

 

$ 29,673

 

 

$ 28,215

 

 

$ 29,247

 

 

$ 29,014

 

 

$ 27,719

 

 

$ 24,369

 

 

$ 27,266

 

 

$ 30,208

 

(a) Represent opening balance sheet purchase accounting impacts of non-amortizing assets related to the Linde AG merger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ending capital (see above)

 

$ 55,804

 

 

$ 54,347

 

 

$ 55,381

 

 

$ 55,151

 

 

$ 53,865

 

 

$ 50,521

 

 

$ 53,428

 

 

$ 56,382

 

5-quarter average ending capital

 

$ 54,910

 

 

$ 53,853

 

 

$ 53,669

 

 

$ 53,869

 

 

$ 54,204

 

 

$ 54,984

 

 

$ 56,796

 

 

$ 57,967

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ending adjusted capital (see above)

 

$ 29,673

 

 

$ 28,215

 

 

$ 29,247

 

 

$ 29,014

 

 

$ 27,719

 

 

$ 24,369

 

 

$ 27,266

 

 

$ 30,208

 

5-quarter average ending adjusted capital

 

$ 28,774

 

 

$ 27,713

 

 

$ 27,523

 

 

$ 27,715

 

 

$ 28,040

 

 

$ 28,810

 

 

$ 30,611

 

 

$ 31,770

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After-tax ROC (4 quarter reported NOPAT / 5-quarter average ending capital)

 

 

11.8 %

 

 

11.6 %

 

 

11.0 %

 

 

8.7 %

 

 

8.0 %

 

 

7.3 %

 

 

6.6 %

 

 

7.2 %

Adjusted after-tax ROC (4 quarter trailing adjusted NOPAT / 5-quarter average ending adjusted capital)

 

 

25.4 %

 

 

25.6 %

 

 

24.9 %

 

 

24.0 %

 

 

22.9 %

 

 

21.8 %

 

 

20.0 %

 

 

18.9 %

 

 
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