RM PLC
02 August 2007
2nd August 2007
RM expands Assessment and Data Services Business through Asset Purchase
RM announces that it has acquired the assets comprising the business known as
SERAP from the University of Bath for a consideration of £580,000. SERAP
provides specialised educational data matching and reporting services for
Government Departments & Agencies and Local Authorities. SERAP already works
with RM, providing services for the National Pupil Database - Achievement and
Attainment Tables (NPD-AAT) contract.
RM will acquire SERAP's existing contracts, along with the software, data and
expertise required to fulfil these contracts. Eight members of staff will
transfer to the RM Group under TUPE regulations. SERAP's assets will be
integrated into, and managed from, Forvus, the Group's specialist data services
company.
The acquisition of SERAP significantly enhances RM's Assessment and Data
Services business. SERAP provides additional relationships with exam boards and
Local Authorities, which are key customers for the Assessment and Data Services
business.
Commenting on the acquisition, Tim Pearson, CEO of RM, said:
'It's great to welcome the SERAP team to RM. We're excited by the opportunities
their skills and market relationships open up for our Assessment and Data
business. Bringing SERAP into RM also significantly enhances our ability to
deliver important contracts for Department for Children Schools and Families
more efficiently and effectively.'
Gordon Brown, Head of SERAP, added:
'SERAP has worked closely with Forvus for thirteen years and, since winning the
NPD-AAT contract with RM, our relationship has grown closer. Becoming part of
Forvus provides an exciting future for the business and its staff. I look
forward to working with them to consolidate and grow the business and extend the
range of services we offer. We are particularly pleased that we are joining a
group which shares our belief that educational data provides a significant tool
for the improvement of education.'
For further information, please contact:
Mike Greig/Phil Hemmings, RM plc 08450 700300
Mark Antelme, Brunswick Group LLP 0207 404 5959
Notes:
Founded in 1973, the RM Group is a leading provider of educational products and
services to schools, colleges & universities, local government, and central
government education departments & agencies. RM works closely with
educationalists to create new products, processes and technology which improve
teaching and learning. RM is listed on the main market of the London Stock
Exchange under the symbol RM.L.
RM acquired Forvus, which provides outsourced data and analysis services, in
July 2003. Forvus' customers are primarily public sector organisations and its
business comprises substantial, multi-year contracts. Forvus is based in
Clapham.
SERAP, the Schools Exam Results Analysis Project, was founded by the University
of Bath in 1978 to provide specialist educational data processing and reporting
services. SERAP provides services to Local Authorities through the NCER (the
National Consortium for Exam Results), a consortium comprising all English local
authorities as well as Jersey, Guernsey, the Service Children's Authority, Isle
of Man and Isles of Scilly. SERAP provides services to RM in the delivery of the
National Pupil Database Achievement and Attainment Tables contract for the
Department for Children, Schools and Families, and has provided data services
for the Department for Education in Northern Ireland.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange