London, UK 2/18/05—Smiths Group’s Detection business has acquired Farran Technology,

a developer of millimeter wave technology for explosives detection, for £19

million ($36.0 billion) and as much as an additional £5 million based on performance

targets. “Smiths Detection is a world-leading business in a growth market,

and it is important that we maintain the momentum by broadening the technology

base,” said Smiths Group Chief Executive Keith Butler-Wheelhouse. Founded in

1977 and based in Cork, Ireland, Farran sells microwave components and subsystems

for broadband wireless and imaging applications. Smiths also plans to

grow the company’s subsystems operations.