Company: LIN
Filing Date: 2025-04-30
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0000950170-25-060925
Chunk: 46

Company: LINDE PLC
Filing Date: 2025-04-30
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 46
---
 of the NEOs’ target total direct compensation opportunity was in the form of performance-based variable compensation and equity grants, motivating them to deliver strong business performance and drive shareholder value. The performance-based compensation is “at risk” and dependent upon the Company’s achievement of pre-established financial and other business goals set by the HC Committee and, for equity incentives, also the Company’s stock price performance. The annual variable compensation payout and the ultimate value of the performance-based equity compensation awards could be zero if the Company does not perform. Performance-based equity compensation is valued at the “grant-date fair value” of each award as determined under accounting standards related to share-based compensation.

| 44 | Linde plc |

Executive Compensation Matters

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

How Compensation Decisions Are Made

Shareholder Engagement

The Company maintains a robust outreach program whereby management regularly discusses executive compensation design and other relevant matters with shareholders.

At the July 2024 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, approximately 92.7% of the votes cast were in favor of the Company’s Advisory Vote on NEO Compensation. When making compensation program decisions, the HC Committee considered these results as well as shareholder feedback received during outreach sessions.

Role of the Human Capital Committee

The HC Committee reviews and approves the corporate goals and objectives relevant to the CEO’s compensation, evaluates the CEO’s performance relative to those goals, and determines and approves the CEO’s compensation. The HC Committee also reviews the performance of the other NEOs against the goals and objectives relevant to their compensation, and reviews and approves the compensation of the other NEOs.

Role of the Compensation Consultant

The HC Committee engages a third-party compensation consultant to assist in analysis to inform and support the HC Committee’s decisions on executive compensation. For its consideration of 2024 executive compensation, the HC Committee engaged Pearl Meyer LLC (“Pearl Meyer”) as its compensation consultant.

In February 2024, as part of the HC Committee’s standard practice to conduct such a review on an annual

basis, the HC Committee assessed the independence of the compensation consultant. After considering the six independence factors specified in the Nasdaq listing standards, the HC Committee determined that Pearl Meyer met the criteria for independence.

The scope of Pearl Meyer’s engagement includes:

Review of compensation programs and preparation and presentation to the HC Committee of reports on executive compensation trends and other various materials.

Review of the peer group analysis and compensation benchmarking studies prepared by management and review of other independent compensation data.

Advice on the determination of NEO’s compensation, the consultant’s view of the CEO’s