Smiths Group (LSE:SMIN) PLC is set to bank an extra US$400mln after agreeing to sell its medical division to new bidder ICU Medical.
Stripping out debt, the ICU deal values the medical arm at US$2.4bn compared to a previously recommended offer worth US$2bn from US private equity firm TA Associates in July.
ICU’s offer will generate cash proceeds of US$1.85bn said the FTSE100 group, around US$50mln more than the TA proposal.
Smiths will also receive shares in ICU Medical worth US$500mln or around 10% of the US company.
In the statement, Smith said it will hand back £737mln of the cash proceeds to shareholders through a share buyback, adding it has withdrawn its recommendation of the TA proposal.
Paul Keel, Smiths chief executive, said: “The ICU transaction provides both a higher value for Smiths' shareholders, as well as future value creation through our 10% holding of the enlarged combined group and a potential $0.1bn additional contingent consideration.”
Vivek Jain, ICU’s CEO added: "The combination of these two businesses makes sense for the medical device marketplace and fits well with ICU Medical's existing business.
“By joining two complementary product portfolios to create a leading IV therapy company, we can help simplify customer workflows and add significant value and choice.”