Discussions of a merger between European management system registrars DNV and Intertek, as reported in Quality Digest Daily on December 8, have been put on hold due to unplanned "complexities," according to a joint statement.

"After intensive discussions and reviews, we have concluded that a satisfactory transaction can not be executed in light of various unanticipated complexities within a reasonable time period. We both continue to believe that the contemplated transaction would have had significant strategic and financial benefits to both Intertek and DNV," DNV CEO, Henrik O. Madsen, and Intertek Group CEO, Wolfhart Hauser, said in the statement.

The acquisition plan had been in the works throughout 2009. According to the plan, Intertek would have purchased DNV’s business unit DNV Business Assurance, a unit that works mainly with management system certification. At the same time, DNV would have invested in Intertek shares and participated on Intertek's board.

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