LOS ANGELES — Remote video guarding and real-time crime prevention provider Elite Interactive Solutions today announces an investment from Chicago-based private equity firm CIVC Partners.
The transaction, coordinated by security sector investment bank Barnes Associates, “marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of both Elite and the broader remote guarding industry,” according to the joint announcement.
“This is a defining moment not just for Elite, but for the entire category of proactive security,” says Aria Kozak, founder of Elite Interactive Solutions and a 2024 SSI Industry Hall of Fame inductee, who will move from CEO to chairman of the board in conjunction with the CIVC investment.
“After an exhaustive process, CIVC emerged as the ideal partner to help us scale our vision,” says Kozak. “This strategic investment enables us to fully capitalize on our unmatched ability to prevent crime, drive apprehensions, and deliver industry-leading customer retention.”
Why CIVC Partners Invested in Elite Interactive Solutions
With a nationwide footprint across retail, multifamily, automotive, industrial and campus markets — and an enterprise-focused client base — Elite, which was founded in 2007, maintains a Law Enforcement Advisory Board made up of former police chiefs.
CIVC Partners, which has deployed more than $2.9 billion of capital across 88 platform investments since 1989, will provide both capital and strategic guidance to further accelerate Elite’s growth trajectory. Houlihan Lokey advised CIVC on the transaction.
“This is a milestone deal for the industry and a transformational opportunity for Elite,” says Michael Zatulov, who has been promoted to succeed Kozak as CEO as part of the growth initiative. “Private businesses and public agencies are increasingly overwhelmed by crime and ineffective security measures.
“Elite has already proven it can deliver exceptional results at scale. With CIVC’s backing, we are poised to expand our reach, deepen our impact, and build a truly next-generation security platform,” he says.
Zatulov, who joined Elite in 2017, most recently served as Elite Interactive Solutions president and chief operating officer.
“It’s been a tremendous honor to learn from and work alongside Aria,” says Zatulov in the company announcement. “His legacy as a pioneer in this space is unmatched, and I’m humbled to continue the mission he started — to reimagine security as a proactive, intelligence-driven service.”
