Smiths Group: divisional bid could provide impetus for break-up

19 April 2018 - 12:00 am UTC

Impetus for a break-up of Smiths Group [LON:SMIN] could come from an external factor such as a bid for one of its divisions, according to bankers and a fund manager.

 

A break-up is increasingly logical following the de-risking of its pension scheme and the demerger trend in the industrials sector, they said.

 

But with five divisions – Medical, John Crane, Detection, Interconnect and Flex-Tek – it is likely to be complicated to execute, according to two bankers and the fund manager.