BSI acquires KPMG’s Dutch certification operations

PRESS RELEASE

19 November 2004

BSI Group today announced that it has acquired KPMG’s certification business in Holland – KPMG Certification B.V., which will now be known as BSI Management Systems, B.V.

This strategic move will enable further international expansion for BSI, particularly across Benelux and continental Europe.  The company, based in Amsterdam, already has a significant local market share, providing over 620 certificates across a wide spectrum of industry sectors. 
 
With this acquisition, BSI will be able to provide an enhanced range of services to businesses, both SMEs and multinationals, across the region.  These include delivery of certification, training and advisory services to international management systems standards and local schemes.  The acquisition will also enable BSI to consolidate further its regional market leading position as a provider of management systems services across Europe. 

BSI Management Systems B.V. will provide registrations for ISO 9000, ISO 14001, BS 7799, ETSI and many other international standards. It will also provide certifications for local schemes such as VCA for building contractors. There will be a significant number of multilingual assessment staff based in Amsterdam working with customers across the region.

Filip Buerms, managing director of BSI Management Systems, CEMEA, will head up the operation for BSI.  All existing employees of KPMG Certification B.V. will become employees of BSI Management Systems B.V. 

Commenting on the announcement, Stevan Breeze, chief executive of the BSI Group said, “This is a strategic acquisition for BSI and will enable us to provide enhanced services for new and existing clients across the region, both SMEs and multinationals.”

_ENDS_

For more information please contact:

Wilma Tulloch on +44 (0)20 8996 6330 OR
Marc Edney on +44 (0)20 8996 6330