Exponent on alert to buy UK arm of alarm company ADT | Money News

The private equity firm Exponent is among a pack of suitors weighing a takeover of the UK arm of ADT, one of Britain’s biggest suppliers of residential security systems.

Sky News has learnt that Exponent, which has owned companies including Ambassador Theatre Group, Big Bus Tours and the publisher of the Racing Post newspaper, is considering buying the business from US owner Johnson Controls International (JCI).

The auction of the UK arm, which is being handled by bankers at Citi, has drawn interest from a number of private equity bidders, according to City sources.

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One insider said the UK division, which is one of the biggest players in the British market, could fetch in the region of £150m.

Other parts of ADT’s international operations are also being sold off by JCI.

In June, the company announced the disposal of its unit in Mexico to Verisure, the security systems group which this month went public in Stockholm.

Verisure raised roughly £3bn from a share sale as part of the deal.

ADT’s international operations are owned separately to its US business, which is part of New York-listed ADT.

Founded as American District Telegraph in 1874, ADT is one of the oldest private security brands in the world.

Exponent declined to comment.