Bridgepoint to buy majority stake in German lab testing firm GBA

By Amy-Jo Crowley and Maria Martinez

BERLIN, July 16 (Reuters) - Bridgepoint has agreed to buy a majority stake in German laboratory testing company GBA Group from Ardian, Bridgepoint said on Thursday, confirming a Reuters report.

The deal values GBA at more than €1 billion ($1.2 billion), a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday. Bridgepoint did not disclose the financial terms of the transaction.

GBA operates about 100 sites across Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific, providing testing services to more than 60,000 customers in industries including food, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, medical devices and cosmetics.

"Their deep sector expertise, strong local presence and global network make them an ideal partner as we continue to invest in our capabilities, accelerate our international expansion and pursue selective acquisitions," said GBA Group CEO Steffen Walter.

The deal is the latest sign of private equity interest in testing, inspection and certification companies, which have benefited from tighter regulation and rising demand from companies seeking to verify product safety and supply chains.

Swedish private equity firm EQT agreed in June to acquire British testing giant Intertek for about £10.9 billion.

Bridgepoint has previously invested in testing businesses including Element Materials Technology, LGC, Fera Science and NMi.

During Bridgepoint's ownership of Element, the company expanded its laboratory network, quadrupled revenue and added more than 5,000 technical specialists, the source told Reuters on Wednesday.

“The Testing, Inspection and Certification sector continues to benefit from powerful structural tailwinds, driven by increasingly complex regulation, accelerating product innovation and growing demand for independent scientific expertise," Edward Little, head of buyout UK and managing director of Ardian, said.

(Reporting by Amy-Jo Crowley. Writing by Maria Martinez. Editing by Elisa Martinuzzi and Mark Potter)