Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (“CD&R”), a global private equity firm with a strategy of building and growing the businesses in which it invests, today announced a definitive agreement to acquire Bodycote Testing Group (“BTG”), the world’s leading materials testing business, from Bodycote plc. The transaction is valued at approximately £417 million. Fred Kindle, a CD&R Operating Partner will serve as Chairman of BTG.

BTG provides technical and engineering services to the aerospace, energy, oil and gas, civil engineering, transportation, pharmaceutical, food, consumer products and medical device industries. BTG’s services include quality control, product accreditation, and specification compliance mission critical to its customers and require demanding accreditation and technical know-how. BTG operates over 130 laboratories in more than 25 countries worldwide.

“As a market leading, multi-location services business with customers in diversified and resilient industries, BTG exhibits the key characteristics that we look for in all of our investments,” said Donald J. Gogel, President and Chief Executive Officer of CD&R. “Our ability to execute this transaction in the current environment reflects the flexibility of CD&R’s operating model; and the acquisition of such a geographically diversified business, headquartered in Europe, is a validation of our global approach.”

Fred Kindle, CD&R Operating Partner added: “We look forward to working with the BTG team to build on the core strengths of the business and create an even stronger, more profitable enterprise that is positioned for sustainable, long-term growth.”

The transaction, which is conditional on the approval of Bodycote’s Shareholders and the receipt of certain regulatory approvals, is expected to complete before the end of October 2008.

Prior to Sulzer, Mr. Kindle also served at McKinsey & Company in New York and Zurich. He is a member of the Boards of Zurich Financial Services and VZ Holding Ltd.