TORONTO, June 14, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Route1 Inc. (OTCQB: ROIUF and TSXV: ROI) (the “Company” or “Route1”), an advanced North American provider of industrial-grade data intelligence, user authentication and ultra-secure mobile workforce solutions, today announced that it has entered into a share purchase agreement to acquire Portable Computer Systems, Inc. (“PCS Mobile”) from Kathy Pakkebier for US $2.5 million.

About PCS Mobile

PCS Mobile is a computer reseller with expertise in mobile data applications, including wireless products for in-vehicle use.  The company offers guidance and state-of-the-art mobile devices for a wide range of applications including utilities, telecommunications, field services, insurance, healthcare, Fire/EMT, police and public safety - as well as state and local government.

Based in Denver, Colorado, PCS Mobile services customers primarily located in the Southwestern and Rocky Mountain regions of the U.S.  Rugged devices and applications include but are not limited to Panasonic Toughbook mobile computers, Xplore and Getac rugged tablets, Genetec license plate recognition solutions, and accessories from Gamber-Johnson and Havis.

Based on prior year’s results, Route1 expects PCS Mobile to add annualized revenue of approximately US $15 million with a gross margin of 14% to 16%.  The EBITDA contribution from PCS Mobile is expected to be consistent with current Route1 results.

PCS Mobile currently has 19 employees or full-time equivalents.  Most of the company’s employees are based in the Denver, CO office.  Locations in which PCS Mobile has employees include Denver (CO), Oxnard and Los Angeles (CA), Detroit (MI), Omaha (NA) and Bridgeport (TX).

The retained team will be 15, including Kathy Pakkebier (President and CEO) and Martin Murphy (Vice President) under three-year employment agreements.  Post-closing, Ms. Pakkebier and Mr. Murphy will sit on Route1’s steering committee and each act in a sales / business development capacity.

LPR and Genetec

The addition of Genetec’s license plate recognition (LPR) solutions enhances Route1’s data security and data analytics portfolio of application software owned or resold with application enhancements.  Genetec is a provider of IP video surveillance, access control and license plate recognition solutions unified in a single platform. The company is known for providing license plate reading technology to law enforcement.

According to Grand View Research, Inc. the North American smart parking market is expected to reach US $4.11 billion by 2025, developing better solutions to avoid traffic congestion and for systematic positioning of vehicles across the cities are the key factors driving the market growth.  Off-street systems are also anticipated to gain traction due to the increasing traffic congestion in urban environments. This market segment is expected to witness considerable growth over the forecast period from 2017 to 2025 and was valued at US $672.6 million in 2016.

PCS Mobile is the leading supplier in the Mid-West for AutoVu, the Genetec LPR technology. The AutoVu™ automatic license plate recognition system automates license plate reading and identification, making it easier for law enforcement and for municipal and commercial organizations to locate vehicles of interest and enforce parking restrictions. Designed for both fixed and mobile installations, the AutoVu system is ideal for a variety of applications and entities, including law enforcement, municipal and commercial organizations. The AutoVu LPR solution is often coupled with rugged devices and accessories, further increasing the revenue opportunity for PCS Mobile.

Route1’s Strategy

Route1 is acquiring PCS Mobile to bring the “new” GroupMobile business model to the southwestern US - geographic expansion, add to the size and quality of the GroupMobile sales team, and leverage PCS Mobile’s current and future placement of rugged mobile devices and license plate recognition technology - creating significant opportunities to sell data security and analytics software applications and capabilities to PCS Mobile customers. 

Transaction Details

Route1 entered into a share purchase agreement on June 14, 2019 to acquire PCS Mobile with an expected closing date of June 28, 2019.  The two weeks between signing and closing will be used to complete business integration planning.

On closing, Route1 will pay Kathy Pakkebier US $2.5 million in the following consideration:

• US $1,030,000 in cash.
• US $500,000 in Route1 common shares. 11.2 million common shares; post-closing, Ms. Pakkebier will own approximately 3% of Route1’s undiluted common shares.  The issued Route1 common shares will not be tradable until a date no earlier than 12 months after the closing date; 50% tradeable after 12 months plus an additional 8.33% tradeable each month until 18 months after the date of closing, subject to a change of control provision.
• US $250,000 in an unsecured note, Note A.  Principal amortization annually in arrears with amortization of $80,000 in year one and two, and $90,000 in the third year.  The annual interest rate is 3% paid annually in arrears.
• US $720,000 in an unsecured note, Note B.   Amortization monthly in arrears with a straight line amount of $20,000.00.  The annual interest rate is 2.37% paid monthly in arrears.  The condition of payment is the continued employment of each of Ms. Pakkebier and Mr. Murphy, who are married.

Additional transaction terms include no assumption of indebtedness, a minimum cash balance of $200,000, a working capital balance that is reflective of the time of year and the nature of business, and a key employee non-compete and non-solicitation for a period equivalent to the term of employment plus two years.

Investor Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will also hold a conference call and web cast to discuss the Company’s first quarter financial results and provide a business update on Monday, June 17, 2019 at 9 a.m. eastern.

Participants should dial Toll-Free: 1-800-263-0877 or Toll/International: 1-646-828-8143 at least 10 minutes prior to the conference, pass code 1954942.  For those unable to attend the call, a replay will be available on Monday June 17, 2019 after 12:00 p.m. eastern at Toll-Free 1-844-512-2921 or Toll/International 1-412-317-6671, pass code 1954942 until 11:59 pm on Monday July 1, 2019. 

The webcast will be presented live at http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=134761.

About Route1 Inc.
Route1, operating under the trade name GroupMobile, is an advanced North American provider of industrial-grade data intelligence, user authentication, and ultra-secure mobile workforce solutions. The Company helps all manner of organizations, from government and military to the private sector, to make intelligent use of devices and data for immediate process improvements while maintaining the highest level of cyber security.  Route1 is listed on the OTCQB in the United States under the symbol ROIUF and in Canada on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol ROI.  For more information, visit: www.route1.com.

For More Information, Contact:
Tony Busseri
Chief Executive Officer, Route1 Inc.
+1 416 814-2635
tony.busseri@groupmobile.com

This news release, required by applicable Canadian laws, does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

© 2019 Route1 Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, transmitted or otherwise used in whole or in part or by any means without prior written consent of Route1 Inc.  See https://www.route1.com/terms-of-use/ for notice of Route1’s intellectual property.