21st Century Technology has announced the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of RSL Group, incorporating Region Consultants Ltd, Region Services Ltd and RSL Cityspace Ltd.
Coventry-based RSL Group is one of the UK’s market leaders in developing and supplying public information systems for bus travel, such as interactive terminals, real-time display screens and kiosk based ticketing machines.
Founded over 20 years ago, RSL Group has built an enviable reputation for high quality design and installation of travel information display and ticketing systems in bus and rail hubs. Its customers include Passenger Transport Executives (PTEs) and local authorities and their technologies are installed in many towns and Cities around the UK.
RSL Group has its own development team and its industry proven Electronic Passenger Information (EPI) software is now in its 4th generation.
The acquisition is part of 21st Century’s strategy to grow their business by adding software capability and moving beyond individual vehicle-based solutions for CCTV, telematics and monitoring systems, towards highly integrated on-board technologies with connected and web based back-office software management applications.
RSL Group’s combination of hardware, software, installation and management of closely related products and services is highly complementary to 21st Century’s offering and provides the Group with a valuable step towards realising the Board’s strategic vision.
Russ Singleton, CEO of 21st Century Technology said: “RSL Group specialises in real-time passenger travel information and ticketing systems within local authorities and PTEs, where most of the large operators are active in providing public transport. It is with these operators that 21st Century Technology works closely, as an ‘on-vehicle’ bus and rail systems integrator.
“This acquisition combines some important capabilities to develop new, class-leading products and services to help us grow our business and deliver enhanced value for money solutions to customers through our economies of scale.
We have already identified some valuable potential synergies between the two businesses having invited RSL Group to incorporate their display technology into our three-carriage ‘Smart-Train’ systems integration testbed. It was here that we also discovered that their ‘get it right first time’ ethos and business culture fit very well into our own.
“RSL Group customers can be assured of a continuation of the high levels of service they have come to expect, as well as now having the opportunity to access a much wider range of products and services offering.”