Cybit acquires Thales Telematics Plc to extend position as one of Europe's leading Telematics Service Providers

  • Acquisition of Thales Telematics Plc adds more than 400 customers and 10,000 vehicles to the Cybit Vehicle Telematics base
  • Acquisition of the Private Mobile Radio (PMR) business complements the acquisition of BlueFinger in June 2006
  • Extends Cybit's reach into new sectors including exploration and mining
  • Cybit firmly established as key consolidator in the European Telematics sector

Cybit, one of Europe's leading online Telematics Service Providers (TSPs), announces the acquisition of Thales Telematics Plc, a UK based vehicle Telematics and wireless asset management business, from Thales Group. The acquisition will consolidate Cybit's position as a leader and key consolidator in the European Telematics sector. Following the acquisition, Cybit will have a customer base of approximately 1,500 representing in excess of 35,000 installed units.

Thales offers end-to-end vehicle telematics solutions that cover key areas such as temperature monitoring, door control and vehicle weight monitoring. Its key customers include Fowler Welch Coolchain, Unichem and Coca Cola Enterprises. Thales Telematics Plc also offers high-accuracy, radio-based tracking solutions, utilising its own, in-house, tracking devices which operate in the free-to-air Private Mobile Radio (PMR) frequency range. Specific applications include advanced communications, precise positioning and telemetry. Key customers include Western-Geco, Agrocom and Lafarge.

This capability will provide Cybit with an ideal platform from which to extend its reach into specialist asset management markets such as security, mining, oil and gas exploration and inshore maritime applications. The PMR business has significant synergies with BlueFinger who were acquired by Cybit in June 2006.

"This is an excellent acquisition for Cybit. It firmly positions the group as one of the leading European Telematics Service Providers and gives us critical mass in the high-growth mining and exploration sectors," commented Richard Horsman, Cybit's Chief Executive Officer. "The new capabilities and functionality of Thales' solutions integrate perfectly into our mobile resource management portfolio, and will enable us to extend the value proposition we can offer to both new and existing customers."

Following the acquisition, Cybit will provide full, on-going support for existing solutions. Thales Telematics' customer base will benefit by being part of a group that is wholly focussed on the Telematics and location services marketplace and committed to developing and supporting an ever expanding products and services portfolio.

The acquisition of Thales Telematics is part of Cybit's continuing strategy to become a major force in global Telematics by both organic and acquisitive growth. Its acquisition of Bluefinger, for £1.6 million, added 3,700 vehicles and ships to the group's roster and represented Cybit's entry into the marine Telematics market. Following its integration into Cybit, the Bluefinger business was turned around and has since generated contracts worth more than £1.5 million for the group, with clients including the Ghanaian Government and Thales UK.

About Cybit:
Cybit is one of Europe’s leading Telematics Service Providers (TSPs). It provides over 1,500 organisations of all sizes across a wide range of industries with a comprehensive suite of online solutions to improve the management and control of nearly 35,000 mobile assets.

Cybit recently extended its reach into the maritime telematics sector following the acquisition of BlueFinger Limited, a global leader in the delivery of high value Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ) management solutions to UK and international governments.

Additional information is available at www.cybit.co.uk and www.bluefinger.com

Contact information:
Duncan Burford
IBA - PR for Cybit
Tel: 01780 721 433
Email: dburford@iba-europe.com

Chris Linney
Senior Marketing Executive, Cybit
Tel: 01480 389100
Email: clinney@cybit.co.uk

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