Linde sells U.S. antitrust assets for $3.3 billion to Messer, CVC

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany's Linde said on Monday it would fetch $3.3 billion from selling assets to a consortium of German gases firm Messer and buyout group CVC in a deal to secure antitrust clearance for its planned $87 billion merger with U.S. group Praxair.

Linde said last week it was in advanced talks with Messer and CVC over the sale of a majority of Linde's gases business in North America and certain Linde and Praxair assets in South America.

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(Reporting by Ludwig Burger; Editing by Arno Schuetze)