/ 10 August 2004

Stallion now largest BEE armed-response company

The buyout of Secureco Armed Response (Gauteng) by Stallion Security has transformed Stallion into the largest privately held black economic empowerment (BEE) armed-response company in South Africa, according to Stallion Security CEO Clive Zulberg.

Zulberg said the takeover has brought almost 4 000 Secureco Armed Response subscribers into the Stallion Security stable, establishing the company’s dominant position in Gauteng.

With a fleet of about 40 vehicles, the company now provides armed-response services to large parts of Gauteng.

“The primary advantage for both our existing and our new client base of the buyout is that we will have considerably more vehicles in all the areas that we service,” Zulberg said.

Stallion group business development director Tembile Sangoni said the buyout is only the first of a string of acquisitions that are in the pipeline.

“Thanks to a very solid liquidity position, we have set our sights on rapid expansion and the best way of doing that is to buy out existing operations in areas we want to expand into.”

The company recently took delivery of 25 new vehicles to augment its existing fleet, Sangoni said.

Zulberg, who was recently nominated as Absa Jewish Entrepreneur of the Year, said security is a major growth area worldwide and that the company is well placed to grow its business.

“Thanks to a process of consolidation and training in the security sector, South African providers are among the best in the world,” he said.

In addition to its armed-reaction unit, Stallion Security provides guards to the private and public sector. It also has a fully-fledged investigations unit that provides forensic services as well as a polygraph and undercover investigations unit.

At its learning centre, it provides a comprehensive curriculum to train security officials up to management level, Zulberg said.

Zulberg added that the company’s forensic investigations branch has shown strong growth and works closely with the South African Police Service to ensure that criminals are convicted. — I-Net Bridge