On October 31, 2011 Columbia Analytical Services, a leading independent network of analytical testing laboratories in the United States, was acquired by ALS Group, for total consideration of $33 million, plus the value of its real estate holdings. ALS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Campbell Brothers Limited an Australian listed company. WCTA Member Cascadia Capital acted as Columbia Analytical Services’ exclusive financial advisor on the strategic sale. Columbia Analytical Services’ prominent track record of innovative methodologies and technical capabilities, coupled with an extensive, yet strategic, marketing effort, allowed the business to gain multiple indications of interest from leading global environmental testing and inspection companies. As a result of this highly successful process, which included a global set of strategic and private equity parties, Columbia Analytical Services was able to garner a strategic premium valuation in a challenging market environment.
“This cross-border acquisition is further evidence of the globalization of the environmental markets where a North American expansion strategy underlies the deal rationale of the foreign buyer,” said Michael Butler chairman and CEO of Cascadia Capital. “Columbia Analytical Services has long been recognized for its focus on customer satisfaction, technical excellence and superior quality methodologies. The purchase of Columbia Analytical Services will bring an unprecedented level of domain expertise to the ALS Group, which is rapidly expanding its footprint in testing and technical services in the US and beyond. We are witnessing this phenomenon of foreign buyers seeking acquisitions of domestic leaders across a number of our current mandates and clients in the Sustainable Industries vertical.”
ALS Group, a division of Australia-based Campbell Brothers Ltd., benefits from adding a network of analytical testing laboratories and technical expertise with an outstanding track record and over 25 years of experience to their US environmental business. The production capacity and workforce Columbia Analytical Services adds to ALS Group will position their US business as a premier provider of analytical services.
Columbia Analytical Services, an environmental laboratory network headquartered in Kelso, providing a wide variety of analytical laboratory services to engineering consulting firms and industrial clients in the aerospace, automotive, engineering, government, mining, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper, transportation, utilities, and waste management industries. The company currently has six laboratory locations across the United States.
To learn more about this transaction or to speak with us about M&A or private equity options for your company, contact Michael Butler, Chairman and CEO, Cascadia Capital. mbutler@cascadiacapital.com.