Intertek 10-month sales up 27 percent

(Reuters) - British testing and inspections company Intertek Group (ITRK.L) said on Thursday its revenue for the 10 months ended October 31 rose 27 percent at actual exchange rates over the year-earlier period.

Intertek, which ensures that products such as crude oil and chemicals conform to industry standards and meet safety requirements, said its key growth drivers remained intact.

The drivers are new product development, demand for high-quality, growing demand for safe and environmentally friendly products imposed by regulation, outsourcing of in-house testing and increased demand for independent certifiers of internationally traded goods, it said.

Intertek, which has more than 1,000 laboratories in 110 countries, said it expects these drivers to continue to produce good organic revenue growth, although at moderated levels in weaker periods of economic growth.

Growth through selective acquisitions remains a key part of the group's strategy, with the future pace of acquisitions likely to reflect prevailing economic conditions, it added.

Intertek shares were up 4 percent at 774 pence at 8:51 a.m. on the London Stock Exchange, after opening lower.

(Reporting by Ramkumar in Bangalore; Editing by Mike Miller)