CEO sees recent acquisition as Allied Universal’s continued evolution
Allied Universal CEO Steve Jones likes to think that his organization mirrors the evolving security industry it serves, and with Monday’s acquisition of U.S. Security Associates (USSA) from Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division (GSMBD), he stresses that perception is following script. The transaction that also included the global business unit of USSA, Andrews International, positions Jones and his team as one of the most dynamic and diverse security service companies in the world.
“Security has evolved on all levels. Emerging threats, coupled with a stronger emphasis on safety and changing business environments are now the norm. As the need for security evolved, so have our service offerings to include threat intelligence and situational awareness,” says Jones, who was previously CEO of Universal Services of America, which merged with AlliedBarton in 2016 to create Allied Universal, the largest security services company in North America. “So, not only do we offer innovative technology, like robotics and remote video monitoring, we have the capability of monitoring customers’ sites and assets through our state-of-the-art Monitoring and Response Center.”
Through the MaRC, clients can subscribe to several managed or hosted services via our Global Security Operations Center tools that help clients aggregate, analyze, and report and the communication of critical events and information to stay abreast of and prevent threats and risk.
“Over the years, USSA has evolved into one of the leaders in the security industry and like us, provides a unique suite of security solutions to a wide array of clients across industry verticals,” adds Jones.
Jones says the acquisition of USSA increases Allied Universal’s national presence, enhances its position in Canada -- primarily in the Toronto and Vancouver areas, as well as expands the company’s footprint to Central America to places like Costa Rica and Honduras. The acquisition of Andrews International expands the organization’s presence into the United Kingdom.
USSA also provides Allied Universal with a sizable consulting and investigative division and event staffing business, StaffPro. The combined organization will provide unparalleled and comprehensive security solutions to its customer base around the globe.
According to Jones, Allied Universal will remain focused on its clients and the long-term goal of being the industry leader in not only personnel and protective services but across the technology spectrum as well. Other benefits Jones sees emerging from the merger with USSA include:
- Robust support systems and infrastructure to help meet clients' needs under both normal operations and states of emergency.
- Increased span and depth across markets, enabling the company to better serve clients nationwide and to have more local resources to support clients and employees.
- Deeper expertise across all vertical markets.
- An improved ability to attract the highest-quality, best-trained security officers in the industry.
Allied Universal also figures to increase its overall national brand in the U.S. in addition to enhancing its position in Canada and expansion into Central America and the U.K.
As far as future business goals and other potential acquisitions, Jones admits his team is keeping an eye out, albeit a very calculating eye.
“We are still looking to grow strategically. But for now, this transaction aligns with our long-term growth strategy of acquiring scalable businesses with significant potential. Our interest in new technologies and service offerings remains high and we foresee future transactions in this space,” Jones concludes.
About the Author:
Steve Lasky is the Editorial Director of SouthComm Security Media, which includes print publications Security Technology Executive, Security Dealer & Integrator, Locksmith Ledger Int’l and the world’s most trafficked security web portal SecurityInfoWatch.com. He is a 30-year veteran of the security industry and a 27-year member of ASIS.
