DNV's Business Assurance division in Japan is forming a strategic alliance through a capital tie-up with Japan Audit and Certification Organization for Environment and Quality (JACO).

JACO and DNV executives together with JACO's main share holders (Panasonic, Fujitsu, Hitachi, Sharp, Toshiba and Mitsubishi) at the capital tie-up celebration.

The purpose of this alliance for both DNV and JACO is to become leading certification bodies by providing several synergies for the customers, e.g. a joint global certificate to cover whole supply chain areas, advanced risk assessment services and utilising auditors more strategically.

This tie-up was established on October 1 2010. A cross holding of shares valued at 10,000,000 yen, and a board with representatives from both companies will form the basis of the alliance.

Naoki Maeda, Country Manager of DNV Business Assurance Japan says: "We promise that we will become leading certification bodies, growing rapidly through the capital tie-up. This alliance will have a great impact on the Japanese certification market and trigger a market reorganization."

Yasunori Shimoi, President of JACO says: “DNV and JACO will contribute to a sustainable development of the Japanese society through advanced assessment services.”

Henrik Madsen, CEO of DNV says: “Now that our two strong companies are joining hands, the market will be offered a unique combination of competence and coverage. We appreciate the trust we are already receiving from our joint customers and DNV will aim to strengthen this through our global network of advances assessment services.”