FTC Grants Early Termination of Waiting Period Under Hart-Scott-Rodino Act

The Linde Group and Lincare Holdings Inc. announced today that the Federal Trade Commission has granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"), applicable to the tender offer by Linde to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock of Lincare at $41.50 per share in cash. The termination of the HSR Act waiting period satisfies one of the conditions necessary for the consummation of the tender offer. The tender offer is scheduled to expire at 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on Tuesday, August 7, 2012 (which is the end of the day on August 7, 2012), unless the tender offer is extended. Consummation of the tender offer remains subject to other customary conditions, including the tender of at least a majority of Lincare's outstanding shares of common stock.