in january 2006, the linde group made a preliminary proposal to acquire boc group based in a £15 per share all-cash offer, which was rejected by the boc board of directors. in march 2006, the second proposal based on a £16 per share all-cash offer, valuing the company at £8.2bn (us$14.4bn; €12bn), was accepted and takeover was completed on 5 september 2006. after nearly a century of intermittent courtship, boc became a part of linde group and the synergy overtook air liquide as the global market leader.