Intertek Group plc, a global provider of safety solutions, has acquired a test services provider to the consumer healthcare market.

4-Front Research was purchased from owner Jon Holt for an initial cash consideration of £6 million. A deferred payment of £4.4 million is due in June 2009.

As a provider of analytical support for clinical research studies 4-Front Research is to form part of Intertek’s consumer goods division in the post-acquisition period.

4-Front Research operates across sites in England, India and France through business units 4-Front Research, 4-Front Research UK, 4 Front Research SAS in France, and Four Front Research of India, together 4-Front Research.

Intertek CEO Wolfhart Hauser comments: “4-Front Research adds new high-value services to support our consumer healthcare customers in helping them to develop and monitor products. It also enables us to support future and growing demand for consumer healthcare products in India and other Asian markets with its locations in India, supported by the European network.”

The acquisition follows yesterday’s announcement of Intertek’s Hi-Cad Technical Services purchase, and marks the company’s third buy of 2008. In February, Intertek bought BioClin Research Laboratories of Ireland to grow advance its expert support services to the global pharmaceutical, medical device and drug delivery industry.