Company: LIN
Filing Date: 2025-04-30
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0000950170-25-060925
Chunk: 54

Company: LINDE PLC
Filing Date: 2025-04-30
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 54
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 respective stock ownership requirement is met. |

The HC Committee determined that using a Return on Capital (ROC) performance goal is appropriate as it encourages and rewards the executive team for focusing decisions and taking actions that drive long term ROC performance. A relative Total Shareholder Return (TSR) goal was also considered appropriate to further strengthen alignment of management payouts with shareholder returns. In order to align with the Company’s global shareholder base, it was determined that TSR performance would be measured against a blended group of companies that is comprised of those that are listed on the S&P 500, excluding the Financial sector, plus those that are designated as Eurofirst 300 at January 1, 2024.

| Linde plc | 53 |

Executive Compensation Matters

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Stock Options (30% of award target value) The HC Committee believes that stock options present an appropriate balance of risk and reward in that the options have no value unless the Company’s stock price increases above the option exercise price and that the opportunity to realize value from growth in shareholder value over the ten-year grant term encourages long term decision-making. The HC Committee notes that the Company’s executives place a high value on stock options as a compensation vehicle. Key features of the stock options include:

| · | Exercise price is fixed at 100% of the closing market price on date of grant.                                                                       |
| · | Vest in equal annual tranches over three years and expire after ten years.                                                                          |
| · | No repricing without shareholder approval.                                                                                                          |
| · | Require NEOs to hold all shares obtained from exercise, net of taxes and exercise price, until their respective stock ownership requirement is met. |

Restricted Stock Units (20% of award target value) The HC Committee recognizes that RSUs can provide appropriate rewards to executives through alignment with the Company’s stock price. The RSUs are the smallest component of the equity award mix and cliff vest three years after their grant date to aid NEO retention. RSUs can also mitigate some of the impact of an economic downturn on the PSU and stock option components of the annual awards. Key features of the RSUs include:

| · | Pay no dividends nor accrue dividend equivalents prior to vesting.                                                              |
| · | Require NEOs to hold all after-tax shares derived from vested awards until their respective stock ownership requirement is met. |

Equity Award Grant Practices The HC Committee generally meets in January and February each year to consider prior year performance under Linde’s incentive programs. At the February meeting, the HC Committee