In a high-stakes acquisition that reverberated through the global security and engineering industries, CVC Capital Partners announced Wednesday that it has reached a £2 billion ($2.7 billion) agreement to buy Smiths Detection from Smiths Group PLC — a move framed as a major strategic pivot for the FTSE 100 company.

The transaction, steered by legal heavyweights Latham & Watkins LLP for CVC and Freshfields LLP for Smiths Group, will be funded through CVC’s Capital Partners IX fund.

CVC executives Dominic Murphy and Conor Keogh hailed Smiths Detection as a critical infrastructure guardian whose technologies “play a crucial role in helping protect people and critical infrastructure worldwide.” They added that CVC intends to accelerate the company’s next growth phase through deep investments in engineering, innovation and aftermarket support.

A Global Leader in Aviation and Infrastructure Security

Smiths Detection occupies a commanding position in the aviation safety market, powering the screening of carry-on bags, checked luggage, and air cargo. Its technologies are deployed across 47 of the world’s 50 largest airports, making it a dominant force in global threat-detection systems.

For the fiscal year ending July 31, the company reported:

• £963 million in sales

• £122 million profit

• £1.6 billion in total assets

The brand’s reach extends far beyond airports, supplying x-ray and detection systems to government facilities, commercial buildings, and critical infrastructure hubs.

Smiths Group Sharpens Its Industrial Identity

Smiths Group CEO Roland Carter framed the sale as another milestone in the company’s strategic realignment announced in January. The divestiture of Smiths Detection follows the group’s recent sale of Smiths Interconnect to Molex Electronic Technologies for £1.3 billion.

Carter said the transaction “positions us strongly to deliver enhanced growth and returns” as Smiths refocuses on becoming a premium industrial engineering firm specializing in flow management and thermal solutions.

Smiths Group expects to net £1.85 billion in cash from the sale of Smiths Detection, with plans to return “a large portion” to shareholders.

Restructuring a Global Portfolio

The divestments mark a major shift for the London-listed conglomerate, long known for its diverse portfolio of engineering technologies. Now, by selling two of its major business units in rapid succession, Smiths is betting on a tighter, higher-margin industrial identity.

The sale of Smiths Detection is expected to close by December, pending regulatory approvals and mandatory consultations with the works council of Smiths Detection France SAS.

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