NORTHBROOK, Ill., June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL), a global leader in safety testing and certification, announced today that it has acquired RFI Global Services Ltd, a leading provider of testing, approval and consultancy services to the global technology market, including data security, cellular, wireless and smart card technologies. The company is a market leader in testing and certifying new generations of payment devices, including contactless cards and terminals as well as broader mobile payment systems. RFI Global will be integrated into UL's Verification Services business, which provides performance testing, inspection and auditing for product manufacturers and retailers worldwide.

"This acquisition allows us to further extend our global safety mission and better serve companies in the growing wireless, performance and data security markets," said Keith Williams, president and CEO of UL. "Every day, an increasing number of products are transmitting data wirelessly and many organizations are relying upon wireless protocols. Combining the expertise and market positions of UL and RFI Global allows companies to come to a single organization for safety, sustainability, wireless and security product testing."

Headquartered in Basingstoke, near London, RFI Global will operate under the name RFI Global, a UL Company, and current management will report directly to UL Verification Services leadership.

"This acquisition gives RFI Global the opportunity to be part of an organization with global reach, technical knowledge and brand reputation," said Stephen Kirk, CEO of RFI Global. "UL and RFI Global have a long-standing relationship providing complementary services to customers. This acquisition strengthens our value proposition to our customer base and allows us to expand joint offerings on a much broader scale."

Expanded offerings as a result of the acquisition include EMC testing and software capabilities enabling companies to better track and manage global product approval processes.

Financial terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed.

About Underwriters Laboratories

UL is an independent product safety certification organization that has been testing products and writing Standards for Safety for more than a century. UL evaluates more than 19,000 types of products, components, materials and systems from more than 66,000 manufacturers each year. In total, there are more than 20 billion UL Marks appearing on products worldwide. UL's global family of companies and network of service providers includes 68 laboratory, testing and certification facilities serving customers in 102 countries. For more information, visit: http://www.ul.com.

AboutRFI Global Services Ltd

RFI Global is a trusted provider of consultancy and testing services to the global technology market. RFI Global's expertise covers Cellular, Wireless and Smart Card technologies, with particular emphasis on convergent products (i.e. those that combine multiple technologies). With over 20 years of experience and a global presence, RFI Global has built a reputation for the quality of its service, the expertise of its staff, and the ability to deliver in demanding timescales. For more information, visit: http://www.rfi-global.com.