SGS Continues Acquisition Spree with Sentinel Services of South Africa

Hot on the heels of other recent global acquisitions of small, independent
nondestructive testing service providers, SGS has continued its buying spree
with the purchase of South Africa-based Sentinel Services.

Sentinel Services is based in Johannesburg, and provides nondestructive testing
(NDT) services and consulting to the power, oil, railway, mining, and
manufacturing industries. Sentinel Services was formed in 1999.

The privately owned company currently employs 53 staff and consultants and
generated revenues in excess of ZAR 21 million in their latest fiscal year.

Having acquired Australian Radiation Services, the Ludwig Group, Gladstone,
Exprimo NV, Gravena, Sercovam, and Vitrology within the last six months, it is
becoming clear that SGS will expand by acquisition into what could become, or
may already be, the largest industrial inspection provider in the world. In an
industry long known for fragmentation, the effect of this continued industry
consolidation by SGS and other large conglomerates will have far reaching
effects for the thousands of remaining small businesses that serve the global
inspection market.

"We are continuing to strengthen our South African business in Industrial
Services. Sentinel will provide valuable personnel, skills and capabilities to our
existing infrastructure and coupled with other recent acquisitions in South
Africa, we are now well positioned for future growth in this exciting
marketplace", said Chris Kirk, CEO of SGS.