ADS Security acquires fourth company in six months

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—ADS Security, a super-regional security and automation company based here, has acquired customer accounts from Alarm Specialists of Cocoa, Fla. The purchase adds approximately 1,600 accounts—60 percent residential and 40 percent commercial—that will be serviced by ADS's Melbourne, Fla. office.

John Cerasuolo, ADS president and CEO, told Security Systems News that after meeting Alarm Specialists president Dave Eddins for the first time earlier this year, he knew the two companies “were a really close fit from a cultural standpoint,” he said. “The foundation that he built his business on is very consistent with the values here at ADS.”

Including Eddins, five employees from Alarm Specialists are joining the ADS team in its Melbourne location, according to Cerasuolo. “We are excited that Dave and his fabulous team will be joining us. His really strong group of employees not only strengthens the extent of our customer reach but significantly extends the capability of our team.”

The purchase of Alarm Specialists is the fourth purchase for ADS this year, following the acquisition of about 1,300 accounts in Melbourne, Fla.; 3,000 accounts in Sanford, N.C.; and 1,300 accounts in Northport, Ala. These deals have earned ADS a gain of more than 7,000 purchased accounts year-to-date. In 2015, ADS acquired security companies in Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia totaling approximately 6,500 accounts.

With two of the last four ADS acquisitions helping to extend the Florida market, the Melbourne office is now the company's fourth largest location, said Cerasuolo, who hopes to extend the company's reach in Florida with some additional acquisitions. ADS first launched operations in Florida in 2007 with the acquisition of Advanced Detection Systems.

Overall for 2016, Cerasuolo said, “It has been a busy year. We matched our number of acquisitions for all of 2015 already. And I wouldn't be surprised if we did not land at least two more deals before the end of the year.”

All of this growth has enabled ADS to surpass $3 million in RMR, which Cerasuolo said, “was an important milestone for us to reach.”