Company News: CSA Group Acquires SIRA

(CSA Group: Toronto) -- Robert M. Griffin, president and CEO of CSA Group, recently announced that CSA Group has acquired SIRA Test and Certification Limited, a world leader in the conformity assessment solutions field that specializes in the testing of safety equipment used in potentially explosive atmospheres, and three affiliated companies.

Four SIRA companies: SIRA Test and Certification Limited (STC); SIRA Certification Service (SCS); SIRA Environmental (SEL); and SIRA Consulting Limited (SCL), formerly owned by Volvere plc of London, were acquired as part of the agreement for an initial cash consideration of £8 million ($13 million). SIRA will operate as a business division of CSA International and the SIRA brand will be retained and used 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," says Griffin. "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. Adding SIRA will serve as an important building block in the global expansion of CSA International's hazardous locations testing business and service offerings."

SIRA has been at the forefront of hazardous locations business for more than 25 years. SIRA is the UK's leading notified body (appointed by the United Kingdom government) specializing 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 is also among the top certification bodies issuing 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," says Mike Shearman, managing director of SIRA. "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. Jointly SIRA and CSA International extend their lead in the hazardous location and environmental certification markets."

SIRA examines and tests equipment against European standards (EN) for ATEX directive 94/9/EC, and international (IEC) standards for an IECEx certificate of conformity. SIRA also issues UKAS accredited product certification against a range of other British, European, and international standards, as well as issues reports against other approval body standards.

Headquartered in Chester, and with labs and offices in Bakewell and Crayford, in the United Kingdom, the SIRA companies employ 55 people, including specialized engineers and management. CSA Group has taken measures to ensure that the transfer in ownership will result in a seamless transition of services and employment for SIRA employees and SIRA clients. The acquisition was enabled through the strategic M&A advisory firm of WAIN Management, Paris, France.

For more information on SIRA or CSA International please visit: www.siracertification.com, www.csa-international.org or www.gethazloc.com.

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