Telarc To Merge With Sai Global In NZ Market

Telarc To Merge With Sai Global In New Zealand Market

Auckland, NZ, 2 April 2007.

Telarc Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Testing Laboratory Registration Council, today announced that it will merge with the New Zealand operations of SAI Global Ltd (ASX:SAI).

The deal creates a powerful assurance organisation in New Zealand by bringing together the largest providers in both New Zealand and Australia.

Geoff Hunt, Chairman of Telarc, said “This is a very important step for Telarc. It addresses the issue of business loss due to Australian based trans-Tasman businesses preferring to deal with an Australian assurance provider. Importantly, it will enable NZ customers of Telarc SAI to access the wide range of products and services developed by SAI Global. SAI Global was the logical partner for Telarc and we look forward with excitement to the experience that SAI Global will bring.”

On announcing the transaction, the chief executive of SAI Global, Mr Ross Wraight, said: “We are delighted to be joining forces with Telarc in New Zealand, a move which further cements SAI’s position as one of the leading global assurance providers and strengthens our business base in New Zealand.”

The Acting Chairman of the Testing Laboratory Registration Council, Richard Dimmock, said, “The Council welcomes this Trans-Tasman link as the opportunity to further expand the provision of quality assurance services that will better help New Zealand businesses compete in both domestic and international markets.”

The Transaction

• Telarc and SAI will merge their operations into Telarc which is to be renamed Telarc SAI Limited.
• SAI will hold a 25% strategic stake in Telarc SAI Limited.
• Telarc’s Australian based clients will be serviced by SAI.
• SAI’s NZ based clients will be serviced by Telarc SAI Limited.
• Telarc SAI will remain a Crown Entity Subsidiary for the purposes of New Zealand’s Crown Entities Act 2004

Telarc SAI will offer both management systems and product certification audit services with solutions including quality, environment, occupational health and safety, information security and product safety.
According to Mr Wraight: “The formation of Telarc SAI is in line with SAI’s strategy to establish a credible presence in key geographic markets.”
Telarc annually assesses the management systems of more than 1,500 organisations in most industry types and in both the private and public sectors. It operates from offices in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch. Mr Dimmock noted that “the merger will be a key driver towards strengthening the trans-Tasman capabilities of an important Crown entity”.

SAI has a global network of offices in countries including: Japan, China, Thailand, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden, the United States, Mexico, India, Turkey, Egypt, Australia, and New Zealand.

For further information regarding Telarc please visit http://www.telarcsai.co.nz/ or for further information on SAI please visit http://www.saiglobal.com.

SAI Global (ASX: SAI) is an applied information services company that helps organizations manage risk, achieve compliance and drive business improvement through: Delivering standards, regulatory and technical information; Adding value to this information; Creating training, communication and monitoring solutions; and providing assurance through independent assessment. For further information please visit www.saiglobal.com.

Telarc’s parent (Testing Laboratory Registration Council) was formed in 1973, is a Crown Entity and is head quartered in Auckland. Telarc is the largest certification body in New Zealand offering a range of management systems certification programmes including quality, environmental, occupational health and safety, rail safety and health and disability. http://www.telarcsai.co.nz/

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