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): July 27, 2020
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.) |
The Priestley Centre
10 Priestley Road
Surrey Research Park
Guildford, SurreyGU2 7XY
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))
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. ☐
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 | New York Stock Exchange |
ITEM 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
The Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of Linde plc was held on July 27, 2020 (the “AGM”), at which shareholders voted upon the items set forth below. The total number of shares that were present or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting was 426,492,902, which was 81.2% of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote and which constituted a quorum. The final voting results of the items submitted to a vote of the shareholders are set forth below.
Proposal 1
The twelve nominees for election as a director were elected to serve until the 2021 annual general meeting of shareholders and until his or her successor is elected and qualified. The vote results were as follows:
Director Nominees | Shares For | Shares Against | Shares Abstained | Broker Non-Votes | % of Votes Cast For |
| Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Reitzle | 399,303,256 | 13,692,409 | 229,433 | 13,267,804 | 96.68% |
| Stephen F. Angel | 409,040,136 | 3,905,945 | 279,017 | 13,267,804 | 99.05% |
| Prof DDr. Ann-Kristin Achleitner | 405,657,663 | 7,292,730 | 274,705 | 13,267,804 | 98.23% |
| Prof. Dr. Clemens A.H. Börsig | 402,450,641 | 10,457,938 | 316,519 | 13,267,804 | 97.47% |
| Dr. Nance K. Dicciani | 381,413,334 | 31,544,252 | 267,512 | 13,267,804 | 92.36% |
| Dr. Thomas Enders | 409,277,067 | 3,651,288 | 296,743 | 13,267,804 | 99.12% |
| Franz Fehrenbach | 404,146,089 | 8,776,071 | 302,938 | 13,267,804 | 97.87% |
| Edward G. Galante | 378,940,276 | 33,972,140 | 312,682 | 13,267,804 | 91.77% |
| Larry D. McVay | 407,156,733 | 5,768,975 | 299,390 | 13,267,804 | 98.60% |
| Victoria E. Ossadnik | 372,490,032 | 40,484,856 | 250,210 | 13,267,804 | 90.20% |
| Prof. Dr. Martin H. Richenhagen | 247,891,441 | 165,057,075 | 276,582 | 13,267,804 | 60.03% |
| Robert L. Wood | 402,424,299 | 10,510,857 | 289,942 | 13,267,804 | 97.45% |
Proposal 2a
Shareholders ratified, on an advisory and non-binding basis, the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers (“PWC”) as the independent auditor, by the votes set forth below.
| Shares Voted For | | Shares Voted Against | | Shares Abstained | | Broker Non-Votes |
| 405,191,307 | | 20,929,809 | | 371,786 | | 0 |
| (95.01% of votes cast) | | (4.91% of votes cast) | | | | |
Proposal 2b
Shareholders approved the authorization of the Board, acting through the Audit Committee, to determine PWC’s remuneration, by the votes set forth below.
| Shares Voted For | | Shares Voted Against | | Shares Abstained | | Broker Non-Votes |
| 424,323,205 | | 1,646,896 | | 522,801 | | 0 |
| (99.49% of votes cast) | | (0.39% of votes cast) | | | | |
Proposal 3
Shareholders approved the determination of the price range at which Linde plc can re-allot shares that it acquires as treasury shares under Irish law as disclosed in the 2020 proxy statement by the votes set forth below.
| Shares Voted For | | Shares Voted Against | | Shares Abstained | | Broker Non-Votes |
| 423,053,752 | | 1,595,378 | | 1,843,772 | | 0 |
| (99.19% of votes cast) | | (0.37% of votes cast) | | | | |
Proposal 4
Shareholders approved, on an advisory and non-binding basis, the compensation of Linde plc’s Named Executive Officers as disclosed in the 2020 proxy statement, by the votes set forth below.
| Shares Voted For | | Shares Voted Against | | Shares Abstained | | Broker Non-Votes |
| 372,815,501 | | 39,692,528 | | 717,069 | | 13,267,804 |
| (90.22% of votes cast) | | (9.61% of votes cast) | | | | |
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/ Guillermo Bichara
|
| | Name: | Guillermo Bichara |
| | Title: | General Counsel |
Date: July 31, 2020
