What was common in our industry for so many years has kind of disappeared. In its place, several large companies, led by Pye-Barker, have moved into the spaces previously occupied by a significant number of independent alarm companies.
This is not just some random movement in the industry. Rather, it’s a massive shift that most industry leaders never saw coming. And I don’t mean to suggest there is anything untoward that has occurred; instead, I’m simply commenting on a massive shift in how we view the industry. What’s more, they did all this in a way that was both smooth and quite professional.
It was led by Eric Garner, formerly the CEO of one of the largest and most successful companies operating out of Utah. Garner assembled a team of people who were truly professional, who knew what the plan was and who executed it professionally.
And even though Garner and his late father, Rod, were good friends of mine, I had to stare in stark admiration at what they built in less than a couple of years. When Pye-Barker acquired Garner’s company, they had the keystone necessary to continue expanding and acquiring only the top companies — most, if not all, of them independent.
And month after month, I would open up trade publications to see my good friend with the most recent company acquisition. Within a couple of years, they were one of the security industry’s leading alarm and integration companies.
I should add, at this point, a brief observation that I made as they were building this company: They did it honorably. They were not involved in any lawsuits (as far as I knew); they’ve never been the focus of anything that could be called sensational or duplicitous. Rather, they are just the opposite. They have been professional and honorable in every way.
A Most Envious Position as Pye-Barker Grows
This new entity in the security industry has a most envious position.
And, by the way, in an effort to be open and for purposes of full disclosure, my own company, Davis Mergers & Acquisitions, has been around for more than 40 years. It is, of course, well known for acquisitions in the alarm industry.
As much as I would have liked to do a deal with Garner and his team, I never approached them with any potential transactions. That will probably change in the near future.
As many of you know from reading my columns, I’ve written several books and more than 100 columns, and I’ve made cassette programs and video programs. What I would like to do is to make you a free offer! No — not like the free offers on TV. This is the real thing!
I wrote a book a few years back on all my experience doing transactions. It became a fairly big seller in the industry. If you would like a free copy, with no obligation and no further solicitation, I’ll be happy to send it to you.
If you would, send me your mailing address. I will send you a free copy of the book, The Start of the Deal, in the next day or two. If you are thinking about selling your company, buying another company or doing something in between, you need to have a lot of information. There’s a great deal of it in the book.
That’s why I believe The Start of the Deal would be of value to you. But I don’t want to sell it. I would like to give it to you. If you read it, just let me know what you think, and we’ll talk a little bit.
For those who request a copy of the book: Please take your time reading it. Once you have, you will have a lot of information and knowledge about what you need to do when either buying or selling your security company.
Additional Advice
If you need any additional advice or help in putting together your deal, or if you want to talk about a specific company you have for sale or would like to buy, I’d be happy to help you. Just drop me a note with all your information, including your telephone number.
I wish you good luck, and I hope to see you at a future meeting in the industry. Here’s to greater success!
