London, 26 October 2010
For immediate release
SMITHS SPONSORS ADRs TO BROADEN US INVESTOR BASE
Smiths Group today announces it will sponsor an ADR (American Depositary Receipt) programme to help broaden its investor base in the United States, the global technology company's single most important market.
J.P. Morgan has been appointed depositary bank for the Level 1 ADR programme which will start trading today.
Peter Durman, Investor Relations Director, Smiths Group, said: "The US, with over half our Group sales and home to 9,400 employees, is an important market where we see significant opportunity to grow our investor base. Our sponsorship of this ADR program and partnership with J.P. Morgan will help us realise our ambitions to expand our investor presence in the US capital markets."
ADRs allow US investors to buy shares in foreign companies without the need for cross-border or cross-currency transactions. They are priced and pay dividends in dollars and can be traded like the shares of US-based companies.
Smiths Group www.smiths.com is a world leader in the practical application of advanced technologies. It comprises five divisions - Smiths Detection, John Crane, Smiths Medical, Smiths Interconnect and Flex-Tek - that supply products and services for markets in threat and contraband detection, energy, medical devices, communications and engineered components. Smiths Group employs around 23,000 people in more than 50 countries.
Investor Relations
Peter Durman
+44 (0)20 7808 5535
Media Relations
Colin McSeveny
+44 (0)20 7808 5534