(Archived) Praxair Board Elects Clayton

DANBURY, Conn., April 27, 2012 — Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) today announced that Bret K. Clayton, Group Executive, Business Support & Operations of Rio Tinto Ltd. and Rio Tinto Plc at Rio Tinto Group has been elected to the Praxair Board of Directors, effective April 24, 2012. Rio Tinto is a leading international mineral and metals company.

“I am pleased to have Bret join Praxair’s board of directors,” said Praxair Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Steve Angel. “Bret brings extensive financial leadership and a wealth of knowledge in the global mineral and metals industries and will provide valuable advice and counsel as we continue to grow our global presence.”

Clayton was appointed Group Executive, Business Support & Operations in October 2009. He joined the Group in 1994 and has held a series of management positions, including chief executive of the Copper and Diamonds groups, president and chief executive officer of Rio Tinto Energy America and chief financial officer of Rio Tinto Iron Ore.

Prior to joining Rio Tinto, Clayton worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers for nine years, providing auditing and consulting services to the mining industry. Clayton was a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Accounting from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. He is a graduate of the International Executive Management Program of INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France.

Clayton has served as a non-executive director and member of the audit committee of Constellium Holdco B.V. since January 2011. He also served in the following board positions: non-executive director of Ivanhoe Mines Limited from 2007 to 2009; member of the board of directors and the executive committee of the International Copper Association from 2006 to 2009; member of the Coal Industry Advisory Board to the International Energy Agency (IEA) from 2003 to 2006 and member of the board of directors of the U.S. National Mining Association from 2002 to 2006.

Praxair, Inc. is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2011 sales of $11 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies are making our planet more productive by bringing efficiency 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, Inc. is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.