July 28 (Reuters) - Engineering turnaround specialist Melrose Industries Plc said it would sell its Elster business to Honeywell International Inc for 3.3 billion pounds ($5.14 billion) in cash.
The company, which follows a buy-improve-sell strategy akin to private equity firms, said it would return 2 billion pounds to shareholders after the sale.
Elster, Melrose's largest acquisition, houses water, gas and power consumption meter businesses.
($1 = 0.6421 pounds) (Reporting by Esha Vaish in Bengaluru; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier)