Company acquisitions have become commonplace in the last few decades. Independent companies of any kind are on the endangered list. A usual ownership transfer occurs when the seller either has financial problems or has an opportunity to make a good profit on the sale of their company. Buyers normally purchase companies to either eliminate a competitor from the marketplace or because they see the purchase as an opportunity to obtain something at a rock bottom price.
Over the last few decades there have been many well-known acquisitions in the security industry. Aaron Fish wrote a book about his many acquisitions during the Unican years. Among others, he acquired Dominion, Ilco, Orion, Silca, Star and Taylor. Each of these companies was recognized as a manufacturer of key blanks. Technology and knowledge from each of these companies could be shared and put to use in making a better and more wide ranging line of key blanks.
Another example is the Assa Abloy Group. As formerly independent companies, Assa and Abloy were both known for the manufacture of high security lock systems. After the Assa Abloy Group was founded, Assa Abloy acquired companies such as Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Corbin Russwin, Yale and Sargent. Each of the acquired companies already had their own versions of high security lock systems. Assa Abloy recognized high security locks as the next plateau in mechanical lock systems. By acquiring several existing high security lock companies, the idea was to obtain a larger share of high security sales.
Most old-line companies in the security field are covering all bases by maintaining their existing mechanical line of products while also offering new electronic products for future growth. Stanley Black & Decker is going in a different direction by selling the majority of its mechanical security business including its well-known Best Access brand and pinning future North American growth through sales of commercial electronic security.
dormakaba plans to acquire the mechanical lock lines offered by Stanley Black & Decker. dormakaba will now have a stronger porfolio of mechanical products in addition to their increasing line of electronic security and mobile credential technology. Stanley Black & Decker is charting a completely new, non-mechanical course in the security field. It is an interesting development.
