Integration News
Securitas acquires Diebold’s North American Electronic Security business

Diebold´s North American Electronic Security business, based in Green, Ohio, is the third largest commercial electronic security provider in North America. For more than 70 years, Diebold´s North American Electronic Security business has brought together technology innovations, security expertise and quality services to become a leading provider of comprehensive electronic security solutions and services to business customers. Today the operation delivers a full spectrum of capabilities including design, build, integration, installation, monitoring and service providing compelling value propositions to customers. The monitoring services include intrusion alarms, fire alarms and sprinklers, and monitoring of elevators. Diebold´s North American Electronic Security business has approximately 1,100 employees. The operation includes more than 55,000 monitored customer locations and 200,000 sites serviced.

Securitas’ worldwide strategy is to increase security solutions and technology as a part of the offering. Over the past four years, Securitas has strengthened its technological know-how and continued recruiting specialists. In an increasingly demanding security market, Securitas believes that the decisive factor will be having a critical mass of knowledge and the ability to create innovative solutions that provide greater benefits for customers. To support the global strategy, some key acquisitions have been made over the past four years. In 2014, Securitas acquired the Belgian security and critical communications systems integrator SAIT, and 24 percent of the shares in the US remote video services company Iverify. The acquisition of Diebold’s Electronic Security business in North America will strengthen this corporate strategy.

Securitas and Diebold believe that this deal is to the benefit of both parties. Securitas will serve as Diebold’s preferred supplier for electronic security solutions. This will help ensure a seamless transition for Diebold’s electronic security customers, as well as drive further security innovation and services for the industries in which both companies operate.

Tony Byerly, who has led Diebold’s global electronic security business for the past three and a half years, will continue to lead the electronic security business as President and report to Santiago Galaz, Divisional President Securitas Security Services North America. Santiago Galaz says in a comment to the acquisition:
 
“We welcome Tony and his entire team to Securitas.  Securitas Electronic Security – previously Diebold Electronic Security – will continue to be a leader in the North American electronic security industry.  With this acquisition, we will have the ability to increase our security solutions sales, while also being an active player in the technology market, which will bring added value to our customers and make our offer much stronger. We also believe that we can leverage Diebold’s electronic security expertise to Securitas’ existing customer base and offer our customers possibilities of protective services by optimizing the equation between different service components.” says Santiago Galaz.
 
Closing of the acquisition is expected during first quarter of 2016, from which point it will be consolidated in Securitas.