ADS Security (ADS), Nashville, Tenn., acquired the customer accounts of Advanced Electronic Solutions of Opelika, Ala. and Guardian Security of Decatur, Ala. These purchases further ADS’ pursuit of growth across the Southeast.

Between Advanced Electronic Solutions and Guardian Security, ADS has acquired approximately 1,200 customer accounts, Patrick Ritter, vice president/controller at ADS told SDM. The newly acquired businesses will bring the ADS customer base in Alabama to more than 20,000 accounts.

“ADS is always looking for high-quality companies that are growing and that have low attrition and good customer agreements,” Ritter said. The acquisitions bring ADS into markets where they already had existing customers, but no office locations. Advanced Electronic Solutions is made up of 90 percent residential accounts, while Guardian Security’s residential accounts make up 60 percent of its customer base, according to Ritter.

“It’s important to ADS that we acquire companies that have a strong local presence and a reputation in their community of outstanding customer service,” said ADS President and CEO, John Cerasuolo. “The purchases of Advanced Electronic Solutions and Guardian Security support that mission.”

Ritter added that ADS has had a long-standing relationship with Guardian Security, monitoring many of its customers, and the company’s advanced services fit right in with ADS. “The customer base is fairly progressive and they offer a lot of home automation type services that will be great going forward,” Ritter explained. “These were both logical moves for us in these territories.”

Both owners, Chuck Wright of Advanced Electronic Solutions and Ron Beasley of Guardian Security, and their teams, will be joining ADS, which was ranked no. 26 on the SDM 100.