Key Takeaways
- Mérieux NutriSciences has agreed to acquire Certified Group, a Warburg Pincus-backed testing and certification company that generates about $300 million in annual revenue.
- The deal adds Certified Group’s 31 North American laboratories to Mérieux NutriSciences’ network and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026.
- Certified Group operates three units: a Food & Beverage division built on Food Safety Net Services and Certified Labs, a COS unit testing cosmetics and supplements, and Labstat International, which tests reduced-harm nicotine products.
- Nicolas Cartier, CEO of Mérieux NutriSciences, and David Morgan, CEO of Certified Group, both said the combination will expand testing capabilities and speed up service for customers.
- Deborah Kerr, Warburg Pincus managing director and Certified Group’s executive chair, said the deal reflects the platform’s reputation for quality and scientific excellence built under the firm’s backing. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Mérieux NutriSciences Expands North American Reach
Mérieux NutriSciences has agreed to acquire Certified Group, a food and product testing, inspection and certification company backed by private equity firm Warburg Pincus, the companies announced August 18, 2026, in Chicago. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The acquisition adds Certified Group’s 31 laboratories across North America to Mérieux NutriSciences’ network, extending the company’s reach into new regional markets and building a coast-to-coast footprint for customers that need testing done close to home.
Certified Group’s Testing Business
Certified Group generates about $300 million in annual revenue across three business lines. Its Food & Beverage division includes Food Safety Net Services, which tests beef, pork and poultry products, along with Certified Labs. A second unit, COS, tests cosmetics, over-the-counter drugs and supplements. The third, Labstat International, specializes in testing reduced-harm nicotine products. Certified Group also runs contract research arm Lab Plus, regulatory consultancy EAS, and FSNS Certification and Audit.
Deal Terms and Warburg Pincus Backing
Warburg Pincus has backed Certified Group’s growth, alongside Tillia Partners and a board that includes the founders of Food Safety Net Services and Certified Laboratories. Deborah Kerr, Warburg Pincus managing director and Certified Group’s executive chair, said, “Certified Group has built a differentiated platform with a strong reputation for quality, scientific excellence and exceptional customer service.”
Mérieux NutriSciences Executives on the Acquisition
“This acquisition marks an important step in our growth strategy and strengthens our ability to support customers across North America,” said Nicolas Cartier, CEO of Mérieux NutriSciences.
David Morgan, CEO of Certified Group, said, “Becoming part of the Mérieux NutriSciences family, one of the most respected food testing companies — rooted in the Pasteur tradition established by Marcel Mérieux nearly 130 years ago — is the perfect next chapter for our company.”
