Advent International has secured a $6.4bn agreement to acquire Spectris, a UK-based scientific instruments and software group, after outbidding rival KKR with an enhanced proposal that marks one of the largest UK private equity transactions of the year.

Advent’s sweetened offer includes £40.72 per share in cash and an interim dividend of 28p, bringing the total enterprise value to £4.8bn ($6.4bn). The revised bid prompted the Spectris board to withdraw its earlier recommendation for a £4.7bn offer from KKR, shifting full support behind Advent’s proposal.

The Boston-based private equity firm’s move places it ahead of KKR, which is now reviewing its options after also losing out in its recent pursuit of British healthcare REIT Assura.

The takeover underscores renewed global private equity interest in UK-listed companies, particularly those with exposure to life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and industrial digitalisation, sectors that offer defensive growth and global scalability.

London-headquartered Spectris provides precision instrumentation, analytical software, and test systems to clients across the pharmaceutical, automotive, and steel sectors. Its portfolio positions it at the intersection of industrial innovation and scientific progress, making it a compelling acquisition target for buyout firms focused on resilient, tech-enabled assets.

Shares in Spectris rose 2.2% to 4,078 pence on the back of the revised offer, reaching a near four-year high and extending gains since Advent first approached the company in early June.

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