Freeths advises Veracity Associates Limited on sale of SPGL Limited to CERTANIA

Leading law firm Freeths has advised Veracity Associates Limited on the sale of SPGL Limited (SPGL) to international testing, inspection, certification and compliance group CERTANIA.

Headquartered in London, with an additional delivery office in Antwerp, Belgium, SPGL is a specialist provider of commissioning, qualification, validation (CQV) and GxP quality assurance and compliance services. The business supports pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturers operating in GxP regulated environments across Europe, and its clients include major global organisations such as Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi and Pfizer.

Munich-based CERTANIA serves a broad range of sectors including life sciences, food and consumer goods, industrials and buildings and infrastructure. Founded in 2020, the group has grown rapidly and now comprises almost 50 companies.

The acquisition strengthens CERTANIA's life sciences offering and establishes SPGL as the group's European Centre of Excellence for CQV and quality assurance and compliance services, enhancing its ability to support clients throughout commissioning, qualification, validation and ongoing compliance activities across multiple European markets.

Leading the Freeths team on this transaction was Corporate Managing Associate Grace Hill. She was supported by Corporate Partner Martin Smith, Tax Partner Stephen Jones, Employment Director Sophie Fulwell and Corporate Associate Khadeejah Patel.

Commenting on the deal, Grace Hill said: “It was a pleasure to support the shareholders of SPGL on this significant transaction. The business has built a strong reputation across the life sciences sector, delivering specialist CQV and quality assurance services to some of the world's leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The acquisition reflects the continued demand for highly specialised businesses operating in regulated markets and represents an exciting opportunity for SPGL as it embarks on its next phase of growth as part of the CERTANIA group. We were delighted to work alongside the management team and fellow advisers to help bring the deal to a successful completion.”

Jay Lad, Managing Director at SPGL, added: “This transaction marks an important milestone in SPGL's journey. Joining CERTANIA creates exciting opportunities for our people and clients, enabling us to build on our established expertise while expanding our reach and capabilities across Europe. Throughout the process, the Freeths team provided clear, commercial and responsive advice, helping us navigate every stage of the transaction and achieve a successful outcome. We would like to thank Grace, Martin and the wider team for their support.”