On January 15, 2021, Oy Linde Gas Ab acquired Neste's liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder business and Neste's stake in Innogas Oy, propane filling plant in Kilpilahti, Porvoo. With the acquisition, Linde strengthens its position as Finland's leading supplier of propane cylinders.
In the transaction, Linde (formerly AGA) acquires Neste’s LPG business, i.e. related agreements and assets, and Neste's 50 percent shareholding in the previously co-owned Innogas Oy.
“Cylinder gases are part of Linde's core business, in which the company has invested significantly in recent years”, says Pauli Toiviainen, Linde's Sales Director. Linde's Riihimäki plant is Finland's largest cylinder gas filling plant, which was fully automated in 2017 and where a modern propane filling station was opened at the beginning of 2020. Combining propane transport with transport of other cylinder gases will increase efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions.
“This acquisition is a natural continuation of the development of our propane business. We were the first to introduce aluminum and composite cylinders to the Finnish market. The novelties of the 21st century are propane vending machines and other digital solutions. As a result of this transaction, our distribution network and service level will be significantly improved for all our propane cylinder customers. We are really happy to welcome Neste's station network and other distribution points to Linde's dealer network”, Toiviainen rejoices.
Propane cylinder supplies to all customers will continue as normal. Consumers can continue buying propane cylinders from Neste's station network, from other Neste’s cylinder outlets and from all Linde propane sales points. In total, as a result of the transaction, Linde has more than two thousand propane sales points in Finland.