Deal will create SA’s largest Food and Agriculture and Occupational Health laboratory group. NOSA Group, a leading global occupational health and safety (OHS) risk management solutions provider, has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of the Deltamune Group’s laboratory business (a leader in diagnostic testing and salmonella serotyping). The acquisition remains subject to standard closing conditions, and is expected to close at the end of November 2019, becoming effective 1 December 2019.
This acquisition follows NOSA’s 2017 acquisition of the CSIR’s Cape Town and Durban laboratories, and will position NOSA’s laboratory testing business (NOSA Testing) as SA’s largest group of food and agriculture, and occupational health-focused, laboratories.
The combined testing business comprises eight laboratories located across the country, all of which are SANAS 17025 accredited, while two are DAFF approved for diagnostic testing within the poultry sector. The acquisition also gives NOSA Testing its first presence in the rest of Africa, through a laboratory in Zambia.
Pieter Erasmus, NOSA Chief Financial Officer, says the acquisition supports NOSA Testing’s aspirations of becoming South Africa’s leading Food & Agriculture and Occupational Health laboratory group, and over the medium term, extending testing services across the African continent in support of NOSA’s existing regional audit and certification business.
NOSA’s Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) business offers unmatched technical expertise with regards to microbiological and chemical analysis, process and retail safety audits and ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000 certification.
“Post-acquisition, the laboratories will operate as usual, and over time we will enhance efficiencies across the testing network to better meet the stated needs of our clients,” says Erasmus. “Through this acquisition and the combined portfolio of services it delivers, NOSA TIC is now able to bring increased scale and reach, an expanded range of technical solutions and become a regional partner for all our clients who are looking to improve and minimise their risk exposure across the food and agriculture value chain and employee occupational health.”
“This business combination allows us to better serve and understand our customers’ needs, while creating growth opportunities for our people,” says Andre Munian, General Manager of the Deltamune laboratory business.
The Deltamune group will continue to serve its customers and their industries as a dedicated vaccine development and manufacturing company.
Source: NOSA
