BUZZ-Smiths: hits record as looks to merge top biz with ICU Medical
** Shares (Berlin: DI6.BE - news) of British engineering firm Smiths +3.2 pct, hits record high, top of FTSE 100
** Smiths said is in "very early stage" discussions about a potential combination of its medical division with U.S.-based ICU Medical Inc (Frankfurt: 894139 - news)
** Smiths' largest unit, Smiths Medical, has been hit by delays to new product launches which led to a 5 pct fall in H1 revenues at the division (RM (LSE: RM.L - news) : justin.varghese.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)