Group operating profit was up 7.6% to €3.966 billion, up from €3.686 billion in the previous year.
“We have been able to hold our own pretty well, although conditions have been unfavourable and exchange rate effects have had an adverse impact on our growth especially in the second half of the year,” said Professor Dr Wolfgang Reitzle, CEO of Linde AG. “After adjusting for exchange rate effects, we are expecting solid growth in group revenue in the 2014 financial year. We anticipate that we will achieve a moderate improvement in group operating profit.”
Revenue in the engineering division increased by 12.4% to €2.879 billion (2012: €2.561 billion). Operating profit improved by 2.2% to €319 million (2012: €312 million).