ADS Security makes first 2018 purchase

Updated March 16 with additional information and comments from John Cerasuolo

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—ADS Security recently acquired the security accounts of RTC Secure, a division of Ringgold Telephone Company in Ringgold, Ga.—the first purchase for ADS in 2018.

RTC is a “wonderful company with fabulous relationships with their customers, really consistent in a lot of ways with our approach to business,” John Cerasuolo, president and CEO of ADS security, told Security Systems News. “It made sense for them to think about monetizing the investment they had in their security division … and they were hoping to find a partner that would maintain that kind of support and customer care that they've delivered over the years.”

The deal included about 1,000 accounts, 90 percent of which are residential and 10 percent are commercial, according to Cerasuolo.

The bulk of the accounts are based in Northern Georgia and the Chattanooga metropolitan area, he said. RTC Secure customers will be serviced out of ADS' Chattanooga office—the company's third largest branch.

While this is the first acquisition of 2018 for ADS, the company completed four in 2017, and six in 2016. Cerasuolo said that the company expects another good year for acquisitions. “This has the possibility of being a really strong year for us,” he said.

Pending changes to tax law was a factor that could have pushed more deals into 2018, according to Cerasuolo. “There were a bunch of sellers who were holding off on doing deals last year because they were waiting to see how the tax changes worked out. … Some of those deals are now in the pipeline to close this year.”

RTC Secure customers will have access to the ADS advanced suite of residential and commercial services. ADS offers a mobile app and online web portal, smart home technologies, video surveillance, and access control solutions.