The talks are over the majority of Linde's gases business in North America and certain Linde and Praxair assets in South America, it said.

The news came after German magazine WirtschaftsWoche earlier reported that Messer Group was the preferred bidder for Linde's North American business, which it must sell to complete its $83 billion merger with Praxair.

($1 = 0.8565 euros)

(Reporting by Maria Sheahan; Editing by Victoria Bryan)