Investors were quick to make their displeasure known after Smiths Group announced the sale of its medical division. Shareholders showed their disappointment at the £1.7 billion price tag, as the stock tumbled 10 per cent, or 157.7p, to 1414.5p. The deal with private equity firm TA Associates was announced after the stock market closed on Monday – and as traders got back to their posts yesterday, shareholders were hot-footing their way out of Smiths Group. Investors were quick to make their displeasure known after Smiths Group announced the sale of its medical division They had been expecting around £2 billion for the medical unit, which makes ventilators and tracheotomy tubes. But Smiths said TA’s approach was superior and ditching the division would allow it to focus on its core industrial technology business, which makes items including components for the aerospace industry and baggage screening devices.