Stanley acquires Pyramid

LANSING, Ill.—After a string of Sonitrol franchise acquisitions, Stanley CSS announced Aug. 17 that it had acquired Pyramid Alarm, based here.

“While the last nine acquisitions we've done have been Sonitrol franchises,” said Felix Gonzales, VP of strategic initiatives and business development at Stanley CSS, “we're always on the lookout for good traditional security companies in the market space.” He pointed out that “if you look back in our history, we acquired A-1 in Las Vegas and Sylvester's in California. We like a mix of business.”

Gonzales did not release the terms, number of accounts or RMR associated with the deal.

He described the company as commercially focused, with a mix of residential accounts.

There are also an undisclosed number of “municipal police direct connects.” These are accounts that are monitored and dispatched by local police departments.

The accounts are owned by Stanley, and the “software and hardware used at the police department [dispatch center] is provided, maintained, and serviced previously by Pyramid, and will now be done by Stanley,” Gonzales explained.

Stanley likes this arrangement, he said, because is strengthens the company's relationship with local municipalities: “We jump at the opportunity to have that kind of relationship with the local police departments.”

For the municipalities, the deal means that they now have a partner with the “resources of a global company and with the local touch of a Chicagoland office, and our headquarters in Naperville, Ill.”

Pyramid's operations will be folded into Stanley CSS's Downers Grove, Ill. Office. “We picked up some great people from Pyramid; we're very pleased about the talented associates who have joined us,” Gonzales said.

In business since 1982, Pyramid was previously owned by Ernest Merkelis and his wife, who are now retiring.

“It's a great acquisition for all,” Gonzales said.