Barcelona, December 1, 2009.- Applus+, Spanish multinational and leader in the sector of testing, inspection, certification and technological services and one of the top 10 companies in the sector worldwide, today announced its acquisition of Àbac, the Catalonian engineering company specializing in the aeronautical, railway and automobile industries, and IHA, the Finnish roadworthiness inspection company. These purchases are part of the company's strategy to make Applus+ one of the top five companies in the world in its sector.

"We are very pleased to announce the successful completion of these purchases", explained Joaquim Coello, CEO of Applus+. "The acquisition of IHA has established us on the Finnish roadworthiness testing market, where we currently stand as the second largest operator. Also, the purchase of Àbac has given us the opportunity to complete our current product research and development capabilities and to reinforce our offer of services for another industry with plenty of potential: aeronautics", Coello concluded.

IHA

Established in Helsinki almost 15 years ago, Iha-Autokatsastus Oy (IHA) is a roadworthiness inspection company. From their administration and control center in the district of Konala, the company provides services for light and heavy vehicles and has a market share of 13% in the Metropolitan region of the Finnish capital.

The takeover of IHA will allow Applus+ to strengthen its position on the Finnish roadworthiness market, where it has been working since 2006 with its own network of 47 stations. With a market share of 20% and a workforce of 300, the company performs over 650,000 inspections per year nationwide, with sales of almost €32 million.

Today, Applus+ is the second largest vehicle roadworthiness testing operator in the world, with over 18 million tests per year. The company manages service programs in ten countries across Europe, Asia and America, with over 2,200 employees in the sector and annual sales in excess of €200 million. With a market share of 20%, Applus+ is also the leading road worthiness testing operator in Spain where it makes more than 3 million inspections a year.

ÀBAC

Established in 2004 in Badalona, Àbac supplies engineering services for various industries and conducts R&D and design projects for tools, processes and products. It also offers outsourcing services in the engineering field.

The company currently has a workforce of 15 people and posted sales in excess of €1 million in 2008, 90% of which came from its participation in the aeronautical industry.

The addition of Àbac to the Applus+ LGAI division will help the company increase its standing, adding highly demanded capabilities in engineering matters to its renowned testing work.

Applus+ has made a successful strategic move into the aerospace industry and, in the last year, tripled its sales in the sector, reaching €2.5 million. A team of 30 engineers work full-time for this industry, developing projects for companies such as Airbus, EADS, ITP and Safran. Àbac works regularly with important companies in the aeronautical industry, such as Aritex, Sener and MTorres.

Both Àbac and Applus+ are members of BAIE (Barcelona Aeronautics and Space Association), an organization whose aim is to promote the development of the aeronautical industry and related activities in the Catalonia region.