Alert Protective Services acquires in Chicago area

NORTHBROOK, Ill.—Alert Protective Services recently purchased substantially all the assets of Alert Alarm Corporation, based here, which was finalized in February. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“The focus is really on making sure there's no disruption to service, that the new customer base gets to know our friendly and highly skilled staff and becomes familiar with the way to engage with us,” David L. Silberstein, president and CEO of Alert Protective Services, told Security Systems News.

Alert Protective has been implementing new measures to help future growth, both organically and “aggressive pursuit of acquisitions,” according to Silberstein. “Alert Protective Services has invested materially in the last 18 months in operating, accounting, and marketing infrastructure. … The process is fairly seamless for us, given that we have a strong platform to bolt on acquisitions like this,” he said.

“We are opportunistically always in the market for acquisitions and believe we are the perfect partner for owners of alarm companies looking to sell or realize a liquidity event,” said Silberstein.

Alert Protective was founded in 1982, and a majority of the company's work is residential with a growing commercial division as well. Alert Protective offers smart and interactive alarm systems, fire alarms, video surveillance, intercoms and access control among other services.

Based in Chicago, Alert Protective also has customers in Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana.

Alert Alarm Corp. has customers in the Chicago area. Silberstein said that Alert Alarm's mix of residential and commercial customers is similar to Alert Protective's account base. “It overlapped nicely with our current customer base, but definitely helped in terms of expanding a bit more in the Northshore region of Chicagoland,” Silberstein said.

The companies have “similar DNA,” Silberstein said, both focusing on customer service and providing a company with a local feel.

The two companies even have similar names and branding, Silberstein noted. “Alert Alarm Corp. made the transition to the customer base very simple,” he said.