Company: LIN
Filing Date: 2025-04-30
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0000950170-25-060925
Chunk: 78

Company: LINDE PLC
Filing Date: 2025-04-30
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 78
---
 by the SEC rules, which includes: (1) the year-end value of equity awards granted in each applicable year, (2) the change in value of equity awards that were unvested at the end of the prior year, measured through the date the awards vested or through the end of the reported calendar year, and (3) certain pension-related costs.

The calculation of equity award values described above required that the awards be measured as of each vesting date or year-end, as applicable, using certain assumptions. For ROC-measured PSUs and RSUs, the fair values are based on the closing market price of Linde’s ordinary shares on each valuation date adjusted for dividends that were not paid during the remaining vesting period, if any. For relative TSR-measured PSUs, the fair values are based on Monte Carlo simulations performed as of each valuation date. Footnote 8 contains a table summarizing the relevant Monte Carlo modeling inputs associated with each award/valuation date for the 2024 calculation.

The Company utilizes the Black-Scholes Option-Pricing Model to determine the fair value of stock options. Management is required to make certain assumptions with respect to selected model inputs, including anticipated changes in the underlying stock price (i.e., expected volatility) and option exercise activity (i.e., expected life). Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock over the most recent period commensurate with the estimated expected life of the Company’s stock options and other factors. The expected life of options is based primarily on historical exercise experience. The expected dividend yield is based on the Company’s most recent history and expectation of dividend payouts. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of valuation for a period commensurate with the estimated expected life. Footnote 9 contains a table summarizing the weighted-average assumptions that were used to value the stock option awards for the 2024 calculation.

| Linde plc | 73 |

Executive Compensation Matters

Pay versus Performance

(4) Deductions from, and additions to, total compensation in the Summary Compensation Table by year to calculate Compensation Actually Paid consist of:

|                                                                                                                          |     | 2024 
 CEO  |   |             |   |     | Average Non- 
 CEO NEOs     |   |            |   |
|:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|:----|:-----|:--|------------:|:--|:----|:-------------|:--|-----------:|:--|
|