First Acquisition with The Carlyle Group as Majority Shareholder;Applus+ Acquires UK Non Destructive Testing Leader;

Barcelona/Rotterdam - Applus+, one of the ten largest worldwide companies in the certification industry and the top Spanish multinational in that area, announces today the acquisition of MB Inspection, UK market leader in non-destructive testing and inspection (NDTI) for the petrochemical and other related industries. This is the first operation since The Carlyle Group and a consortium of financial, industrial and private institutions led by Caixa Catalunya took over the majority of the company last November. MB Inspection will be integrated in Applus RTD, one of the largest NDTI providers at worldwide level.

“It gives us enormous satisfaction to advance in the compliance of the ambitious growth targets proposed in our strategic plan. The acquisition of MB Inspection will strengthen the presence of Applus RTD in an area of great relevance, serving leading companies in the chemical and petrochemical sector, wherever they need us”, explained Joaquim Coello, Applus+ CEO.
Rob van Doorn, director of Applus RTD, highlighted the strategic importance of this acquisition. “Our company is already a worldwide leader in NDT and Inspection. To continue growing we needed to strengthen our presence in critical areas like the UK”.

“We are pleased to support MB Inspection’s acquisition, which is great news for both MB Inspection and Applus+. The combined company will be in a strong position to support further expansion and continue innovation in NDTI Services. Carlyle and the new shareholders will continue to support the growth strategy developed by the company’s management team,” explains Pedro de Esteban, Managing Director, The Carlyle Group and President of Applus+.

With over 70 years’ experience, Applus RTD has offices in all continents, employing over 1,500 workers. Its business is focused on NDT and Inspection of industrial installations to ensure installations’ quality, integrity and safety.

MB INSPECTION

The incorporation of MB Inspection will strengthen Applus RTD’s strategic presence as world leader in Non-Destructive Testing and inspection in the UK. With a turnover of €35M and five offices in Scotland and England, MB Inspection is UK market leader employing over 350 workers. The company, until now a subsidiary of Motherwell Bridge, has over 25 years’ experience in the non-destructive testing and inspection business and has its headquarters in Falkirk, Scotland. MB Inspection services the main petrochemical, chemical and energy companies located in the UK.

THE EXPANSION OF APPLUS RTD

In April 2006, Applus+ acquired 100% of the Dutch RTD Group, which became the Applus+ division dedicated to inspections and non-destructive testing in the chemical and petrochemical industry, energy and other similar sectors (gas, etc.). Today the division contributes to more than 25% of Applus+ turnover, and is experimenting strong growth. In the last year, Applus RTD (www.applusrtd.com) absorbed four companies: Vantage and DCI in the Netherlands; PNDT in Australia, and RMI in Norway.

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Applus+, a global certification company Applus+ (www.applus.com) is a leading company in testing, inspection, certification and technological services. It is one of the ten largest companies in the certification industry at worldwide level and the top Spanish multinational in that area. The company also has a worldwide leading position in vehicles inspection and non-destructive testing, and it is in the top three at European level in inspection, technical assistance and laboratories.

It carries out certification activities and global technological services including: certification, inspection, calibration, testing, approval, technical assistance, training, technology transfer, management, optimization, engineering and R&D. The company, whose CEO is Joaquim Coello, employs more than 9,000 persons. The Carlyle Group is majority shareholder of Applus+ since November 2007.

Applus+ is present in more than 25 industrial sectors – agribusiness, automotive, construction, transportation, energy, the environment and telecommunications, among others, and on all five continents. In Europe (Andorra, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, and the UK), Americas (Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and the United States), Africa (Nigeria), Asia (China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Singapore) and Oceania (Australia). It has its headquarters in Barcelona, Madrid and A Coruña. The offices in Chicago (USA) and Shanghai (China) lead the business development activities in the Americas and Asia. The Applus RTD corporate offices are located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

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