2004 Was a Busy, Productive Year

Having recently experienced fatherhood for the first time, I have a whole new appreciation for how a year can whisk by seemingly in the blink of an eye.

Seems like just yesterday my wife broke the news to me that we had a baby on the way, and now my beautiful infant son fills my arms and my heart. The time really does fly, and yet it is astounding how much can transpire during the course of those 365 days.

A year ago, the electronic security industry was rejoicing about its fiscal recovery in 2003 and had cautious optimism about the future. Now that future has come to pass and there remains good reason to celebrate as 2004 was another excellent year.

The average security dealer and systems integrator reported almost a 30-percent rise in gross revenues during the period (see Security Sales & Integration’s Annual Business Installation Report inside the 2005 Buyers Guide & Fact Book — poly-bagged with this issue or available at www.securitysales.com).

Several other key indicators underscore the flourishing state of the industry as well. Among them, there is renewed activity on the mergers and acquisitions front as bean counters continue to salivate over our industry’s profit potential.

For example, GE moved to acquire EST and Invision; Honeywell sold its security monitoring services business to GTCR; Quadrangle purchased Protection One; Schneider Electric picked up Andover Controls; Stanley Security Solutions and Diebold acquired a number of systems integrators; and Group 4 merged with Securicor.

Those were just some of the many transactions that vied with dozens of other noteworthy developments to make news the past 12 months. A review of headlines from the leading stories of 2004 ripped from the pages of SSI serves as a reminder of how significant a year it was for all of us in this great industry. Take a look and see if you don’t agree.

This month is a great time to be thankful for your personal, business and industry accomplishments, and to look ahead to the future. I wish you and yours the very best this holiday season!

JANUARY — Mallon Associates Acquired by C.E. Unterberg … Tax Credit for Security Proposed

FEBRUARY — NAPCO Lashes Out at ADI, Cuts Off Distribution … Debt-Ridden Protection One Bought by New York Firm … L.A. Begins Limited Verified Response

MARCH — Tyco Puts ‘For Sale’ Sign on Sonitrol … Honeywell Security Brands a New Direction … Residential Market Expected to Top $3.2 Billion by 2009

APRIL — New York Governor Proposes Security Tax … NICET Drafts CCTV Certification Program … Industry Needs to Prepare for Voice Over Internet Protocol

MAY — Tyco Sells Sonitrol to Private Investors … Andover Controls Sold to Schneider Electric … SAMMYs a Smash for COMM Group, Greater Alarm

JUNE — Honeywell Sells Monitoring Business for $315.5 Million … SLP Capital Sold … SSI Honored for Overall Editorial Excellence

JULY — Latest Figures Show Violent Crime Down … Honeywell Security Expands Service With Acquisition of Genesis Cable … ASSA ABLOY Opens U.S. Smart Card Office

AUGUST — Milwaukee Switches to Verified Response … PSA Celebrates Its 30th Birthday … NBFAA Insurance Program for Dealers Called a ‘Success’ … Protection One Moving Base of Operations

SEPTEMBER — Covert Comes Back to the Security Industry … Canada Increases Fee for Alarm Monitoring Line … Honeywell Adds Vindicator Technologies to Its Security Fold

OCTOBER — ADI Co-Founder Joins CCTV Firm … Alarm Companies Stand Up to Hurricane Onslaught … SIAC Establishes Bill Moody Award

NOVEMBER — NBFAA Announces Dues Increase … Tyco Sells Assets of NACC to Integrated Alarm Services Group … Potter Picks Up Equipment Manufacturer AMSECO

DECEMBER — Level 5 Security Acquires Westec InterActive Security … Siemens Selects New Security Systems President … GE Purchases Edwards Systems Technology

 

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About the Author

Contact:

Scott Goldfine is the marketing director for Elite Interactive Solutions. He is the former editor-in-chief and associate publisher of Security Sales & Integration. He can be reached at [email protected].

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