"Sterling's excellent reputation and 25-year history of providing exceptional service to the food and nutraceutical industries align perfectly with our goal of establishing a solid presence in India," says Dr. Jason Lilly, Neogen's vice president of corporate development. "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. India's rapidly expanding middle class is increasingly demanding more, higher quality foods--which is an exact match with Neogen's mission."

Sterling Test House was one of the first testing companies in India to earn full National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories accreditation, which enables the laboratory to perform services for the full range of testing customers, and is fully compliant with the Indian Food Safety Standards Act for food safety testing. The business has 40 employees, who will be continuing with the acquisition. Sterling will be a part of Neogen's wholly owned subsidiary, Neogen Food and Animal Security (India) Private Limited.

"We are immensely pleased to be joining Neogen," says Shivdas Menon, managing director of Sterling Test House. "The timing for expansion in India in the food safety market is perfect for Neogen to provide leadership to the public and private sectors in their efforts to strengthen the food chain in its entirety."

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.