News just in, that what was / is ASG Estates Ltd (that’s the RAM Investment Group PLC (“RAM”) listed on AIM, market capitalisation circa GBP 7 million folks) is to become RAM VISION sometime in February.
There is so much crap legacy and confusion surrounding Avanti Screenmedia / ASG Media plus all the Gary Truman shenanigans with VMG-ASG and even ADL Media Ltd [1] that it fully makes sense for RAM to re-brand.
RAM Investment Group PLC has a number of quoted and unquoted shareholdings in European and Far Eastern companies and two of its UK operating subsidiaries include TrainFX and RAM Vision.
TrainFX is of course a developer of passenger information, media, communication and security systems for the rail sector – a business purchased from VMG back in late 2008 [2].
It’s probably worthwhile re-iterating some of the timeline that has led us to RAM VISION…
- In November 2009 RAM acquired the business and assets of ASG Media PLC (“ASG”) which included the business and assets of ASG’s operating subsidiaries; ASL Media Limited and Freelance Media Limited which ceased trading.
- At that time, business was continued via ASG Estates ltd.
- All of the ASG group companies had been placed into Administration on 2nd November 2009.
- RAM retained some key ASG staff but not the previous Directors and continued to trade as ASG Estates with a new senior management team led by David Da Costa.
- David Da Costa founded Estates Media Partnership (EMP), a Frogmore-backed company a few years previously but this business was acquired by RAM on 23rd December 2009.
A spokesperson for RAM told us “The acquisition of ASG and Estates Media, together with the original investment in Train FX gives RAM a substantial foothold in DOOH media in the UK”
He added “This demonstrates RAM’s commitment to become one of the largest network operators and make a significant positive contribution to the industry”.