Neogen acquires Kerala-based food safety company

Foraying into India, the US-based Neogen Corporation has acquired Sterling Test House, a commercial food testing laboratory in Kerala, which will serve as a base for its operations in the country.
Sterling aligns "perfectly with our goal of establishing a solid presence in India," Neogen Vice-President (Corporate Development) Jason Lilly said in a statement.
Neogen, however, did not disclose the value of the deal.
"Much as we did in China, this acquisition is intended to bolster our long-term strategy of accelerating our revenue growth in critical global food safety markets," he said.
Sterling Test House, located at Tripunithura in Kochi, is a division of Sterling Group of companies.

Shivdas Menon, Managing Director of Sterling Group of companies, told PTI that Sterling Test House, a medium siezed company was in talks with Neogen since the past 18 months.

He refused to disclose terms of agreement.
The laboratory, set up in a 7,000 square feet area, is one of the first testing companies in the country to earn full National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories accreditation, he said.
Neogen Corporation develops and markets products dedicated to food and animal safety.