Britain Welcomes SAI's Fourth UK Acquisition

SYDNEY, Australia, May 3 /PRNewswire/ --

The British Government has welcomed SAI Global Limited's (ASX: SAI) investment in the UK following its US$60 million acquisition of international standards publishing and database subscription services business, ILI.

ILI represents SAI Global's fourth acquisition in the UK and its largest investment to date, marking an important strategic acquisition for the continued growth and expansion of SAI's publishing business.

Commenting on the deal, UK Trade and investment Minister Ian Pearson said: "I am pleased to see yet another inward investor deepening its links with the UK by expanding its presence here. Acquisitions like this are a vote of confidence in our businesses -- a sign of strength in our economy and our track record in knowledge-driven industries. The UK is the most favoured inward investment location in Europe for Australian companies, with over 1200 businesses now located here."

SAI Global's investment in the UK market has included the following acquisitions:

    
    -- Easy I in May 2005                 -- CCS in March 2006
    -- EFSIS in December 2005             -- ILI in May 2006

UK Consul General & Director General Trade and Investment for Australia, Tim Holmes pointed out: "The United Kingdom attracts approximately 40 per cent of Japanese, US and Asia-Pacific investment into the EU. In making its fourth acquisition in the UK in the past year, SAI Global is among the many Australian companies realising the benefits of investing in Britain," he said.

The acquisition of ILI adds scale to SAI's core publishing business, with annual publishing revenue to exceed US$54 million, and delivers on SAI's strategic intent to build an international technical publishing, distribution and information business and position itself as a significant global services provider.

Mr Ross Wraight, Chief Executive Officer of SAI, thanked the UK Trade and investment Minister, the Consul General and the Inward Investment Group, for their support, which he said has been vital in helping SAI to establish such a strong presence in the UK.

"ILI provides a front end to SAI Global's business in North America and Europe, offering a sophisticated information gateway to its integrated products and services," said Mr Wraight.

    
    Media Inquiries
    Tom Godfrey - SAI Global
    +61-2-8206-6863
    +61-4-1419-1034
    tom.godfrey@sai-global.com

SAI Global (ASX: SAI) is one of the world's leading business publishing, compliance, training and assurance organisations. Through its extensive e-capabilities and its network of auditors, experts and training professionals SAI Global works with organisations to help them build better businesses.

http://www.saiglobal.com

Media - Tom Godfrey of SAI Global, +61-2-8206-6863, or +61-4-1419-1034, tom.godfrey@sai-global.com