DWF has advised Exova (UK), one of the world's leading testing, calibration and advisory services, on its acquisition of Catalyst Environmental Limited, the UK's largest independent stack emission testing business.

The company, which will become Exova Catalyst, will add six facilities and 58 personnel to Exova's existing network of over 3,600 specialists worldwide and will further extend the company's range of environmental testing services which include air, water and soil.

Mike Pooley, European managing director for Exova, commented: "We are constantly striving to increase our provision of technically demanding services. Catalyst is a recognised leader in its field and this move will allow us to further develop the specialist stack testing capabilities we provide in Europe, the Americas and the Middle East.

"This is the latest in a number of acquisitions we have made in recent months and further underlines our commitment to both grow our global footprint and to extend our range of capabilities and the number of customers we can support."

Corporate partner Paul Pignatelli and solicitor Gemma Gallagher led deal at DWF with support from tax partner Ronnie Brown, commercial associate Douglas McLachlan, employment associate Ingrid McGhee, senior solicitor Gregor Duthie and associate John McKie in the real estate team, and trainee solicitor Gayle Biggart in the corporate team.