FLEET SUPPORT GROUP AQUIRED BY NORTH AMERICAN FLEET MANAGEMENT LEADER TO DELIVER UK AND EUROPEAN EXPANSION

UK-based Fleet Support Group (FSG), Britain’s largest independent fleet management company, has joined the family of companies run by United States-headquartered Automotive Resources International (ARI).

There will be no change in FSG’s management structure or staff positions as a result of the acquisition for an undisclosed sum.

Next year (2012) marks the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Chippenham-based business and FSG Chairman and founder Geoffrey Bray hailed this as the start of an “exciting new era for the company, its staff and its customers”.

FSG was founded in 1987 and provides fleet management services to more than 55,000 cars, vans and HGVs throughout Britain and Northern Ireland.

Mr Bray said: “Both FSG and ARI are privately-owned family business and have a similar ethos of partnering with customers and driving efficiency through pro-active management and a zero-tolerance approach to unauthorised expenditures. Both organisations partner with their customers to create solutions that enables a fleet to perform at peak efficiency.

“Existing FSG and ARI customers will benefit from the expertise, skills and range of services that we each provide.”

Mr. Bray added: “Both organisations already offer turnkey solutions for public and private sector fleets. Added value for our customers will be achieved through synergies from joining the ARI family.”

According to ARI President Carl Ortell: “This significant acquisition is another vital step as we continue to expand the scope of our services and our geographical reach. Everyone at ARI is extremely excited about FSG joining our family of companies and about the opportunities that lie ahead of us in the European market.”

Mr Ortell added: “We have many North American clients where our unique ability to deliver customised solutions has provided exceptional results and we believe adding FSG to our family will provide even more flexibility with our global clients and prospects.”

FSG counts some of the UK’s best-known organisations among its client base, including Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions, NATS Ltd (formerly National Air Traffic Services Ltd.), Network Rail, RWE npower, Travis Perkins, Warburtons and WHSmith.

Another attraction of FSG for ARI is its multi award-winning online RiskMaster programme, which has been rated in independent surveys as the most complete occupational road risk management solution on the UK market.

Lord MacLaurin, who will continue as a non-executive director of FSG and is former CEO and Chairman of supermarket giant Tesco, and former Chairman of Vodafone, said: “The association of FSG and ARI is very exciting for both parties. ARI will have a toehold in the UK which will provide a stepping off point for Europe, while FSG will be able to leverage its prestigious customer portfolio on to the international stage.

“For FSG’s employees, the alliance provides a first class opportunity for them to develop their careers with opportunities in both Europe and North America.”

ARI, a part of the Holman Automotive Group, is the second largest fleet management organisation in North America with a workforce numbering more than 2,000 and offices throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Europe. ARI focuses on complex fleets and with the addition of FSG’s 55,000 units, will push its total to more than 850,000 vehicles under management. ARI is headquartered in Mount Laurel, New Jersey.

Photo caption 1: Becoming one (left to right): Fleet Support Group Chairman Geoffrey Bray; Kathy Mullen, Legal Counsel, ARI, and grand-daughter of the company’s founder; Ina Bray, Managing Director, Fleet Support Group; and Brian Bates, Senior Vice-President, Chief Financial Officer, ARI.

For further information contact: FSG Chairman Geoffrey Bray on 0844 8000 700

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