AA DriveTech, part of the AA Group, announced today that it has purchased Intelligent Data Systems, based in Pannal near Harrogate, a leading provider of driver risk management products and services; the purchase price has not been released.
Intelligent Data Systems provides a suite of online management tools allowing those who manage both company-owned and employee-owned vehicles to have detailed, consolidated information about both drivers and vehicles, allowing them to meet their duty of care obligations with the minimum of effort.
Specifically, Intelligent Data Systems delivers:
- Driver licence verification services
- Insurance and MOT verification services
- Company-owned vehicle driver risk management data
- Employee-owned (grey fleet)vehicle driver risk management data
The company will continue to trade as a separate legal entity while becoming a trading operation within the AA DriveTech business. Jonathan Jerome, Commercial Director at Intelligent Data Systems will join the AA DriveTech Management team and oversee the integration of the company into AA DriveTech. Mike Routledge and Ben Liddicott will remain in their respective posts of Sales & Marketing Director and IT & Systems Director within Intelligent Data Systems.
Jonathan Jerome of Intelligent Data Systems commented, “Having worked very closely with the AA for a number of years, we’re delighted to be joining the AA family which will underpin our growth and provide access to resources to expand on our existing market leadership position. We have also been very innovative in the ‘grey fleet’ arena and see many opportunities to offer our services to AA DriveTech’s customers and vice versa. It’s very much ‘business as usual’ as our customers will continue to deal with the same teams and people as they always have; this was a particularly important element of the deal for the Directors and management team at Intelligent Data Systems”.
Commenting on the acquisition, AA DriveTech MD Jim Kirkwood said, “This deal is all about outstanding strategic fit and expansion of our duty of care portfolio. By combining both company’s existing market positions as well as our complementary technologies, we believe we can significantly grow both businesses in the short and long term. It also strengthens our ability to deliver technology-based solutions to the fleet risk sector and improves our reach in the North of England”.
Grant Thornton, led by head of North East corporate finance Ian Marwood, advised the shareholders of Intelligent Data Systems alongside a team of lawyers from Yorkshire law firm Gordons, led by partner James Fawcett.
AA DriveTech
AA DriveTech is the commercial driver training arm of the AA. Previously DriveTech (UK) plc, the company became part of the AA Group in 2010. ( www.AAdrivetech.com )
AA DriveTech annually re-trains over 23,000 employees of various organisations who drive for work purposes through its FleetSafe division
It provides many types of risk management services for business drivers, such as online and in-vehicle driver risk assessments, group workshops, driver licence checking and ‘permit to drive’ programmes
The company also provides specialist DriverCPC courses for coach, bus and truck drivers as well as motorcycle defensive riding courses
Through its DriverAware division AA DriveTech provides 41 different driver education programmes for offenders on behalf of 14 different UK police forces
In total over the past two years well over 300,000 UK drivers have attended some form of AA DriveTech course
Intelligent Data Systems
Intelligent Data Systems (UK) Limited was formed in 2003 and is headquartered in Harrogate. (www.intelligentdatasystems.co.uk )
Market leading provider of driver risk management services including electronic driver entitlement checking services (EDECS) via the DVLA.
The customer base of Intelligent Data Systems includes a significant number of blue-chip clients supported by both direct and indirect sales channels
The focus of Intelligent Data Systems is on innovative technology combined with outstanding customer service and quality.
