Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.12276 – CVC / SMITHS DETECTION) – Candidate case for simplified procedure
Date: 2026-02-03
Institutions: Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission
Subjects: apparatus based on the use of rays, chemical industry, consultancy, economic concentration, financial services, investment company, merger control, retail trade, security services








C_202600755EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2026/755


3.2.2026






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.12276 – CVC / SMITHS DETECTION)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(C/2026/755)


1.   
On 26 January 2026, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 and following a referral pursuant to Article 4(5) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1).
This notification concerns the following undertakings:






—


CVC Capital Partners plc (‘CVC plc’, Jersey),










—


Smiths Detection Group Limited (‘SDG’, UK), controlled by Smiths Group plc (UK).




CVC plc will acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of SDG.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.


2.   
The business activities of the undertakings concerned are the following:






—


CVC plc provides investment advice to and/or manages investments on behalf of certain funds and investment vehicles (the ‘CVC Funds’). The CVC Funds hold interests in companies active in a variety of industries around the world, including in financial services, chemicals, utilities, manufacturing, retail and distribution,










—


SDG is a global provider of advanced security-screening and threat-detection technologies used in aviation, ports and borders, defence and critical infrastructure. The systems offered by SDG include X-ray screening, explosives detection and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear sensors.






3.   
On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.
Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified treatment for certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 on the control of concentrations between undertakings (2), it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.


4.   
The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed concentration to the Commission.
Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. The following reference should always be specified:
M.12276 – CVC / SMITHS DETECTION
Observations can be sent to the Commission by email or by post. Please use the contact details below:
Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu

Postal address:





European Commission




Directorate-General for Competition




Merger Registry




1049 Bruxelles/Brussel




BELGIQUE/BELGIË







(1)  
            OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’).

(2)  
            OJ C 160, 5.5.2023, p. 1.


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2026/755/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)