CSG acquires Kansas-based SafeLink Security ‘Turnkey’ purchase brings in 1,100 accounts
By Rich Miller
Updated Wed February 8, 2012
TULSA, Okla.—Central Security Group has acquired SafeLink Security, based outside Kansas City, Kan., in a turnkey deal that brings CSG about 1,100 accounts in four states.
Glenn Albers, vice president of dealer operations for CSG, based here, said the deal was completed Feb. 1. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Albers said the purchase, CSG's first “full acquisition” in Kansas, was especially attractive because of the company's established relationship with SafeLink.
“They were one of the first five in our dealer program—they've been with us for over 10 years,” he said. “It's going to be great, because we've purchased thousands of accounts through the years from them, so we've got a built-in customer base there.”
Albers said CSG will hire SafeLink's two technicians, installer and sales representative to continue to handle the accounts, which are in Kansas, Missouri, Colorado and Illinois. SafeLink also does business in Kansas and Missouri under the Barnhart Security name.
“What's different about this (acquisition) is the whole turnkey branch aspect,” he said. “It's really helpful that we're able to bring on those employees. It goes one day from (someone) being a SafeLink customer to the next day being with CSG—the same technician servicing the account and all that. That's the best way you can pull it off.”
The transition at the branch office in Lenexa, Kan., a suburb of Kansas City, was scheduled for the middle of February, Albers said.
CSG now has nearly 160,000 residential and commercial customers from California to Florida, Albers said, with the accounts in the latest deal split 60/40. The company operates under the Guardian Security Systems name in Oklahoma.
CSG, which acquired Tulsa-based Controller Security in January, is looking to add more accounts in the near future.
“That's an emphasis for this year, definitely a focal point for myself and Jackie Schmidt, who's also in dealer operations,” Albers said. “We've got a couple of big potential targets right now.”
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