9 July 2009

CSA deals for U.K. testing firm

CSA Group will pay $12.9 million (£8 million) for U.K.-based SIRA Test and Certification Limited.

Four SIRA companies are a part of the deal: SIRA Test and Certification Limited; SIRA Certification Service; SIRA Environmental; and SIRA Consulting Limited.

SIRA will operate as a business division of CSA International, and the SIRA brand will remain and will work in conjunction with the CSA International brand.

“The decision to acquire four SIRA companies is in alignment with CSA Group’s strategic objective to be among the world’s largest safety certifiers and is a component of CSA International’s business strategy to focus on Hazardous Locations testing,” said Robert M. Griffin, president and chief executive of CSA Group.

“As a combined company, we will extend to our clients facilitated access to European, North American, and other markets in a specific fast-growing and complex testing business,” Griffin said. “Adding SIRA will serve as an important building block in the global expansion of CSA International’s Hazardous Locations testing business and service offerings.”

In business for 25 years, SIRA specializes in testing and certification of equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. SIRA has issued more than 3,000 product certificates, including more than 1,800 ATEX (Atomspheres Explosibles) certificates and also issues IECEx (International Trade of Electrical Equipment used in Explosive Atmospheres) certificates of conformity.

“CSA International is the best fit for overall growth in terms of company culture, shared business vision, and SIRA’s positioning as a part of a leading global certification and testing organization,” said Mike Shearman, SIRA managing director. “It is a perfect strategic business fit that will benefit our clients not only in the certification service of products used within explosive atmospheres, but also in certification solutions in the areas of water and air emissions and specialized training.”

SIRA examines and tests equipment against both European standards for ATEX Directive 94/9/EC, and International standards for an IECEx Certificate of Conformity.

For related information, go to www.isa.org/productivity.