London, Feb 17, 2026, 09:19 GMT — Regular session
- Intertek shares moved higher following news it’s acquiring AePVI, a German company specializing in solar PV inspections.
- Drone-based diagnostics come with the deal, as the company steps further into solar assurance.
- Attention turns to Intertek’s full-year numbers, set for release March 3.
Shares of Intertek Group plc climbed 1.0% to 4,476 pence in early London action Tuesday. The move came after the testing and inspection firm announced a deal to acquire AePVI, a German company specializing in drone-based inspections for large-scale solar plants.
This comes as investors watch service groups juggle the push for growth alongside energy transition demands—and keep costs in check. Intertek, for its part, relies on bolt-on acquisitions as one of its faster plays, particularly with organic growth proving unpredictable from one quarter to the next.
Solar project operators want fewer faults; small defects can drain yield on a large scale. Intertek’s wager is on fast, data-driven inspections rather than simply adding more boots on the ground.
Intertek says the deal boosts its solar assurance lineup, bringing in “high-speed, high‑precision” drone inspections and in-house software that spots defects caused by shipping, weather, and similar issues. AePVI, according to Intertek, operates out of Aachen, Germany, was set up in 2017, and employs five people. https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com%2C2026-02-17%3Anewsml_RSQ2417Ta%3A0-reg-intertek-group-plc-acquisition/
The companies didn’t release any financial details.
Chief executive Andre Lacroix pointed to growing appetite for “fast-paced” risk-based quality assurance in solar, driven by the accelerating energy transition. Intertek plans to merge its own network with AePVI’s suite of tools. https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com%2C2026-02-17%3Anewsml_RSQ2417Ta%3A0-reg-intertek-group-plc-acquisition/
Intertek pitches “Total Quality Assurance,” shorthand for its lineup of assurance, testing, inspection and certification services. The company’s World of Energy segment, for its part, features Clean Energy Associates, its profile shows. https://www.reuters.com/markets/companies/ITRK.L/
Traders are now watching to see if the tech-focused inspection strategy can move past Europe and land recurring contracts on big solar projects. The shares have swung between 4,044 and 5,575 pence in the last 52 weeks, putting investors on alert for any hints that momentum might be slipping again.
But pricing a deal like this isn’t straightforward. The target’s on the smaller side, and there’s still no clear timeline on when Intertek might see significant revenue from the new capability. Delays in solar projects, margin pressure, or hiccups with the drone rollout could all blunt the upside.
Intertek’s 2025 full-year numbers land March 3, 9:30 a.m. in London. Investors want updates on demand, margins, and any hints about more bolt-on deals.
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