TranSystems merges Aegis Security Design into the fold

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--Aegis Security Design, a 13-employee consulting firm based here, now finds itself the newest piece of TranSystems, an architecture and engineering firm with more than 1,100 employees and 45 offices across the United States. The merger with Aegis will bolster the company's burgeoning security practice, which already focuses on the supply chain, ports, rail, government and energy verticals.

Dan Keller, Aegis CEO, noted TranSystems has "a very large client base, and one of our primary priorities will be to serve the needs of that client base. We were a fairly small company with an attractive client base, but not nearly the size of a TranSystems. We're going to reach out to their clients and hope to find ways we can be of additional service to them from a security standpoint."

Keller said, "we do not install anything; we're not product-oriented in any way," but that his company designs security systems, consults about guard forces, and helps train internal staff on how to operate a system once it's been installed. He said, also, that after developing an RFP and helping to evaluate bids, Aegis will also come in after installation for "punch listing"--"we'll check their work and make sure it's been done correctly," he said.

Aegis will not have to relocate, and the entire staff will remain with TranSystems. "They're a very dynamic company," Keller said of TranSystems, which does roughly $230 million in revenues. "They've acquired a number of companies ... they've done this about 40 times."

In a statement, Brian Larson, CEO and chairman of the board of TranSystems, said, "Aegis brings highly experienced professionals and advanced techniques to our mission of keeping our clients secure in their facilities and in the transport of goods and people in every mode. Aegis' impressive client list intersects with ours, allowing our combined firms to provide superior, integrated security services to these mutual clients--and to all of our clients."

Keller and founding partner Jim Elder began Aegis in 1998, after careers operating security at the University of Louisville. Keller said his experience as an end user of security systems "gives us a good perspective because we were the client at one time and we understand both sides of the equation. Hopefully that makes us more empathetic."

Security Systems News continues to report on this story.