by Brianna Crandall — August 10, 2015—Of interest to facilities managers in the market for security services, Universal Protection Service, a division of Universal Services of America and a portfolio company of Warburg Pincus and Partners Group, announced last week that it has acquired service provider Guardsmark. The companies together are said to create the largest U.S.-owned security company. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Guardsmark is one of the world’s largest security service companies, with over 125 offices serving more than 400 cities in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. Led by Ira A. Lipman, founder, CEO and chairman, the company has reportedly been renowned for its culture of customer service as the gold standard of sustained excellence and quality leadership in security for more than 52 years. Guardsmark has grown organically without acquisition for 38 years.
Headquartered in Santa Ana, California, Universal Protection Service has reportedly been the fastest growing security services company in the industry, and provides an innovative mix of traditional security services with cutting-edge systems and technology. Universal consists of four unique divisions: Universal Protection Service, Universal Protection Security Systems, Universal Building Maintenance and Universal Fire/Life Safety, and operates nationwide in 100-plus locations, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The companies expressed their mutual respect for each other, noting that the culture of both companies revolves around professionalism and customer service. The combined company plans to fill the urgent need for serious security measures, and will employ approximately 60,000 security professionals across the United States and Canada.
