Smiths Group has entered into an agreement to sell the vacuum and pressure businesses

Smiths Group has entered into an agreement to sell the vacuum and pressure businesses Stokes Vacuum, Hick Hargreaves, Hibon and Wilhelm Klein, to BOC Edwards for 12.8 million. Together with Plenty Ltd, which was sold last month, these US and European businesses previously comprised the vacuum & filtration unit of EIS Group. The deal is expected to be completed by the end of November, subject to regulatory approval.

ENDS

BOC Edwards
BOC Edwards, one of The BOC Groups three global lines of business, is the world leader in vacuum technology for industrial, scientific and semiconductor processing applications. BOC Edwards is a global concern with over 3,000 employees and annual sales around 800m ($1.1bn).

BOC Edwards: Patrick Pearson. Tel: +44 (0)1293 603267 Fax: +44 (0)1293 407451
Email: patrick.pearson@edwards.boc.com

The BOC Group: Christopher Marsay. Tel: +44 (0)1276 477222
E-mail: chris.marsay@group.boc.com