£8.2bn German takeover for British gases group BOC

Gases giant BOC today became the latest historic manufacturer to fall into foreign hands after accepting an £8.2bn (€12bn) bid from German industrial conglomerate Linde.

BOC agreed to join forces with Linde and create the world’s biggest industrial gases supplier after receiving an offer worth £16 (€23) a share and setting aside concerns about possible intervention from regulators.