Wendel SE, a global listed investment firm, today announced that its portfolio company AlliedBarton Security Services has completed its merger with Universal Services of America, creating the leading security company in North America.
The combined company being launched today, which operates under the Allied Universal brand, provides clients localized response and national support with industry-leading technology solutions and approximately 140,000 highly-trained employees. Allied Universal will maintain headquarters in Santa Ana, Calif., and Conshohocken, Pa. It is expected to have total annual revenues of approximately $4.5 billion and adjusted pro forma synergized EBITDA of approximately $440 million including approximately $100 million synergies.
Steve Jones, formerly Chief Executive Officer of Universal Services of America, is the CEO of Allied Universal and Bill Whitmore, former CEO of AlliedBarton, is the company’s Chairman of the Board. AlliedBarton Security Services was a portfolio company ofWendel, and Universal Services of America was a portfolio company of Warburg Pincus and Partners Group. Following completion of the transaction, in exchange for its contribution of its shareholding in AlliedBarton Security Services, Wendel SE received approximately 33% of the shares of Allied Universal and a cash payment of $388 million.
Warburg Pincus and Wendel are lead investors in the combined entity with equal voting rights and three board members each. The remainder of the share capital is split between management and other investors.
Wendel acquired AlliedBarton Security Services in December 2015 for approximately $1.68 billion. As part of the transaction,Wendel made an equity investment of approximately $687 million, for an approximate 95% ownership in the company, alongside AlliedBarton’s management team.
“Allied Universal is the coming together of two industry leaders, and the combining of best practices, leadership and expertise is an opportunity to provide even greater support to our clients and employees,” said Steve Jones, CEO, Allied Universal. “Our shared commitment to the success of our clients and the development of lasting partnerships has created a seamless melding of purpose and cultures.”
“Allied Universal is poised to make an even more significant contribution to the advancement of the security and facility services industries,” Jones added.
“The growth of this industry and the expanding need for safer and more secure environments in response to emerging threats is tremendous,” said Bill Whitmore, Chairman of the Board, Allied Universal. “Through the continuous evolution of our business, we are positioned to help our clients succeed. Allied Universal combines high quality people and technology to deliver customized solutions to meet clients’ specific needs.”
Frédéric Lemoine, Chairman of Wendel’s Executive Board, said, “Wendel is very proud to have this opportunity to have led AlliedBarton Security Services into this transformational merger. This transaction offers great profitable growth prospects. Allied Universal will benefit from the resilience specific to the security industry combined with an improved profitability profile resulting from the synergies. Our investment thesis for AlliedBarton Security Services has been based from the outset on our view that the US security services market is consolidating. Only nine months after our initial investment, we are pleased that our analysis has been validated, with a major transaction creating one of the largest companies in our Group. Bill and Steve are among America’s most talented entrepreneurs in the industry. We are eager to work with them and their staff, at a time when threats to security are omnipresent, to develop the North American leader in security services.”
Along with Allied Universal Security Services, additional company service lines include Allied Universal Security Systems, Allied Universal Building Maintenance Services and Allied Universal Staffing Services.