Smiths Group receives offer
Engineering company Smiths Group has received an approach for its medical division, which sources have said could be worth more than £2bn.
The company confirmed in a statement that it was in early stage talks about a disposal following reports on Thursday that it had begun investigating a sale after an approach from US healthcare group CareFusion.
Smiths Medical, which contributed 35 per cent of the company’s operating profit last year, supplies equipment to hospitals and emergency services. Most of its products are manufactured in the United States, Britain, Mexico and Italy.
Shares in the group were up three per cent in early trading.