RTS Life Sciences to Be Sold

RTS cited low revenues, a decline in net assets and share price, and low levels of trading as reasons for the sale. Like other laboratory automation businesses, RTS Life Science has struggled to adjust to the new era of pharmaceutical company austerity. For the six-month period ending June 30, RTS Life Sciences’ sales declined 4.7% to £4.0 million ($6.0 million = £0.66 = $1) (see IBO 9/30/10). RTS Life Sciences’ 2009 revenues totaled £9.3 million ($14.5 million = £0.64 = $1).

London, England 10/21/10—RTS Life Science, a provider of laboratory sample management solutions, will be sold to Entologi for £600,000 ($946,536 = £0.63 = $1) in cash, under a proposal to shareholders by publicly held parent company Robotic Technology Systems (RTS). RTS’s other businesses, RTS Flexible Systems and RTS Thurnall, will also be sold to Entologi. “With the trading record of the operating businesses over the last four years, together with the operational and financial risks to which the Group is exposed, the Board believes the operating businesses would be better served by the greater financial, managerial and other resources available to it as part of Entologi,” stated RTS Chairman Christopher Brown. In particular, RTS noted that it would be difficult to raise cash to fund the operations of the Life Science business. Formed in 2010, Entologi is a provider of engineering technology solutions. Gary Walsh, managing director of Life Science, will join Entologi as a director. Following the sale, RTS will remain a publicly traded company and will focus on legacy assets and new investments in engineering and industrial technology. Shareholders will vote on the proposal at a general meeting on November 5.

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