Acquisition of Luminaire Testing Laboratory (LTL)

[Erik Sine]

Acquisition of Luminaire Testing Laboratory (LTL)

March 22, 2010

I am pleased to announce that Underwriters Laboratories has acquired Luminaire Testing Laboratory (LTL), a well-respected, independent laboratory providing performance testing for the lighting industry.

LTL, based in Allentown, Penn., is one of five accredited laboratories approved by the Department of Energy (DOE) for ENERGY STAR® qualification testing for LED lighting products. LTL has been providing energy efficiency testing as well as photometry, integrating sphere and ballast testing services for the lighting industry for 20 years. Additionally, Mike Grather, LTL's founder and president, has been instrumental in leading development of the standard for LED energy efficiency.

With eight employees, LTL has seen strong growth over the last four years, due primarily to the increased interest in LEDs and ENERGY STAR®. The lighting industry, spurred by demand for LEDs and energy efficiency, is poised for substantial growth.

Acquiring LTL also makes it possible for UL to:

Provide performance testing services for our safety certification customers

Deliver energy efficiency testing for customers seeking the ENERGY STAR® mark on LED products

Open strategically positioned laboratories to share our knowledge and expand our global lighting capabilities

The acquisition of LTL further positions UL as a testing leader in the lighting industry as it meets growing demand for LED lighting. Please contact our Customer Service team if you'd like to explore how UL and LTL can help you achieve your 2010 business goals.

Sincerely,

Alberto Uggetti

Vice President and Global Manager, Lighting Business Unit

Underwriters Laboratories

[Brian]

if you get some competition ...buy it

[YYZ]

if you get some competition ...buy it

Hey - it's a natural part of a free market economy. In this case, LTL offers services that are outside of UL's previous scope and UL is acquiring their experience. They do offer safety certification services - which overlaps - but UL wouldn't have bought them for that. LTL has become known as one of the best labs for testing of fixture output, life expectancy, efficiency, etc... not to mention standard photometry. As UL wraps its claws around the growth of LEDs, owning a solid testing lab gives them even more control.

Not a fan of this purchase, by the way - being independent is a big part of what made LTL good - but I lean towards Intertek anyways.

[Brian]

if you get some competition ...buy it

Hey - it's a natural part of a free market economy. In this case, LTL offers services that are outside of UL's previous scope and UL is acquiring their experience. They do offer safety certification services - which overlaps - but UL wouldn't have bought them for that. LTL has become known as one of the best labs for testing of fixture output, life expectancy, efficiency, etc... not to mention standard photometry. As UL wraps its claws around the growth of LEDs, owning a solid testing lab gives them even more control.

Not a fan of this purchase, by the way - being independent is a big part of what made LTL good - but I lean towards Intertek anyways.

I'll bet those that used LTL are going to be pissed when prices start going up. Wouldn't surprise me a bit to see UL make a bid other listing co's someday