Latham Advises CVC in £2 Billion Acquisition of Smiths Detection

Latham & Watkins has advised CVC, one of the world’s leading private markets investment firms, in the acquisition of Smiths Detection, a global leader in threat-detection and security-screening technologies for airports and critical infrastructure, from Smiths Group plc. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second half of 2026.

The Latham team was led by London partners Kem Ihenacho and Doug Abernethy, with associates Ruth Taylor, Jia Yan Ng, and Noah Lipshut with assistance from Madeleine Østenstad. Advice was also provided on finance matters by London partner Charles Armstrong, with associates Julie Van der Meersche, Vanessa Ho, Claire McCloskey, and Jorunn Wessmann Wirkola; on separation, IP, data, and technology matters by London partner Christian McDermott, with associates Oliver Mobasser, Dal Lim, Callum Lee, and Sophia Shum; on executive compensation and employment matters by London partner Sarah Gadd and London counsel Shaun Thompson, with associates Ellie Marissa Wilson and Martina Hoelzer; on tax matters by London partner Helen Lethaby, with counsel James Leslie; on regulatory matters by Washington, D.C. partners Paul Rosen and Damara Chambers and counsel Ruchi Gill with assistance from Stephen Keith, and London partner Clare Nida and associate Matthew Unsworth; on antitrust and FDI matters by London partner Stephanie Adams, Hamburg partner Jana Dammann, with associate Nicolas Riemann; and on real estate matters by London partner Quentin Gwyer, with associate Constandinos (Costa) Thrasyvoulou.

Latham also advised CVC and its portfolio company Domestic & General, one of the largest appliance care providers across the UK and Europe, on the sale of Domestic & General to Asurion, a global leader in technology care, support, and protection. The Latham team was led by London corporate partners Kem Ihenacho and Linzi Thomas.