ADS expands farther into South Carolina

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—ADS Security, the regional electronic security and automation company headquartered here, has made its second acquisition since June with the purchase of more than 1,000 customer accounts from ProTec Plus Inc. in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

The purchase grows ADS' South Carolina market to approximately 4,000 accounts and marks the second deal for ADS in that state after it acquired American Burglar and Fire Alarms in Columbia. In all, ADS has more than 80,000 accounts with an RMR of more than $2.4 million.

"We are very consistent [in our acquistion process] and very discplined," ADS president and CEO John Cerasuolo told Security Systems News.

"ProTec Plus has been protecting homes and businesses in Myrtle Beach for over 25 years and we are honored to continue their legacy of outstanding service,” he said.

The new accounts are roughly 50-50 residential and commercial, Cerasuolo said.

ADS will be taking on ProTec Plus' owner Michael Thomas and his team of six, adding to the ADS staff of more than 300.

The purchase of ProTec Plus follows the ADS acquistion of a Middle Tennessee company last month and five security companies across the Southeast last year in North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee.

Speaking to SSN last month, Cerasuolo said he had a number of acquisition plans in mind, specifically looking at the Carolinas, Georgia and North Central Florida.

ProTec Plus customers will have access to the ADS advanced suite of residential and commercial security and automation services, including mobile management, smart home technologies, video home technologies, video surveillance and access control; a proprietary UL-listed, CSAA Five Diamond monitoring center in Nashville; and a customer portal with online account management.