Praxair Inc and Linde AG, the industrial gas companies, are looking to sell some of their European and North American assets in order to gain regulatory approval (both in the US and in Europe) for their reported US$52 billion (€42 billion) merger. Linde is the world’s largest industrial gas company by revenue, and Praxiar third, and the two companies have been in merger discussions since August 2016. In order to satisfy anti-competition regulators, the two companies believe they will need to sell assets valued up to US$8 billion (€6.5 billion), although it is not a given that regulators will accept this. Various bidders have already expressed an interest, including Air Liquide, Air Products & Chemicals, Messer Group, and Taiyo Nippon Sanso Group, as well as some private equity companies. Such a range of buyers is good news for Praxair and Linde, who have given themselves until October to achieve regulatory approval.