A PRODUCT testing firm owned by the University of York has been sold to an internationally operating counterpart.

Eurofins Product Testing Lux Holding SARL has acquired the entire share capital of York EMC Services (YES) Ltd from The University of York.

YES was formed in 1995 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of York, providing regulatory compliance products and services in both the UK and overseas

It has a team of 50 staff at laboratories in Grangemouth in Scotland, Castleford near Leeds and Yate near Bristol as well as an office on the University of York campus.

The Eurofins Group is a leading provider of analytical services with an international network of more than 310 laboratories across 39 countries in Europe, North and South America and Asia-Pacific, employing more than 28,000 staff.

Chief executive of YES, Nick Wainwright, said: “YES has grown rapidly over the last five years and we have made significant investments in our laboratories and our products and services.

“By joining the Eurofins family, we can ensure that this momentum is maintained and that our business continues to develop so that we are even better able to meet the global regulatory compliance needs of our customers in the future.”

YES will continue to be known as York EMC Services and all of the contacts with customers will continue as before.

Vice President of Consumer Products Testing at Eurofins, Stephane Barrau, said: “We are very pleased to welcome York EMC Services to the Eurofins Group.

“York EMC Services provides Eurofins with a very good entry into the E&E testing market in the UK and reinforces our footprint in Europe after the recent acquisition of the Swiss leader Electrosuisse E&E Product Testing.

“We are looking forward to contributing to, and strengthening York EMC Services’ position in its market, as well as expanding the portfolio of tests it offers to customers by offering the full range of services and capabilities of the Eurofins network.”

The University of York was advised by a legal team from Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP in York lead by corporate partner Philip Ashworth and comprising Grace Howell and Fiona Philips. Eurofins were advised by a team from JMW Solicitors in Manchester comprising Damien Brown and Monika Terefenko.