(Archived) Praxair Signs Contract with Horizon Resource Group

DANBURY, Conn., July 14, 2005 — Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) today announced that Horizon Resource Group has selected Praxair Distribution, Inc. to provide industrial and specialty gases to members of Horizon Resource Group and signed a three year supply contract. Horizon is a national group purchasing organization serving the contracting needs of more than 550 colleges, universities and technical degree-granting institutions across 25 U.S. states.

"The packaged gases distribution business is a detail business, a people business, and a local business," said Praxair Distribution, Inc. president Wayne Yakich. "By acting as a trusted supplier and offering customers one-stop shopping with a whole package – not just the gases, but the welding consumables, welding equipment, services and solutions to our customers’ problems, Praxair stands distinctively apart.

"Educational institutions that are Horizon members across the U.S. can now benefit from a national program through a single supplier of cylinder gases and related products that provides a single method of order entry, a uniform product list, and immediate savings," said Yakich.

"Horizon’s strategy allows its members to leverage national buying power in order to drive savings in purchasing and to lower overall operating costs," said Horizon Vice President of Strategic Sourcing Paul Harris. "Our goal is to provide contracts based on quality and value to our members. Praxair Distribution is an excellent choice to further that effort."

More information on Horizon Resource Group may be found at www.horizonrg.com.

Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2004 sales of $6.6 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric and process gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.