(Archived) Praxair Board Elects Galante of ExxonMobil

DANBURY, Conn, October 23, 2007 — Praxair, Inc. (NYSE:PX) announced today that Edward G. Galante, 56, retired senior vice president of Exxon Mobil Corporation, has been elected to the Praxair Board of Directors, effective December 1. His election brings the total number of Praxair directors to 11. Ten members are independent.

"Ed's in-depth experience as a key executive with one of the world's premier energy companies will provide Praxair with invaluable counsel as we continue to expand our growth strategy in the global energy markets," said Steve Angel, chairman and chief executive officer of Praxair.

Galante joined Exxon U.S.A. marketing in 1972 where he held assignments in retail engineering, technical services, industrial sales, product line coordination and terminal operations. He also held assignments in corporate planning, supply, downstream planning and refining, where he became manager of Exxon's Baton Rouge Refinery in 1988. Four years later he was named chief executive and general manager of Esso Caribbean and Central America. Following a two-year assignment as executive assistant to the chairman of Exxon Corporation, he was appointed chairman and managing director of Esso Thailand in 1997 and became executive vice president of ExxonMobil Chemical Company in 1999.

In August 2001, Galante became senior vice president and member of the Management Committee of Exxon Mobil Corporation. His principal responsibilities included the worldwide downstream business: refining and supply, fuels marketing, lubricants and specialties and research and engineering. He retired from ExxonMobil in 2006.

Galante recently served on the boards of the Council of the Americas, Council for the United States and Italy and the United States Council for International Business. He earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Northeastern University.

Praxair, Inc. is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2006 sales of $8.3 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.