GVI Security Goes Private, Samsung Companies to Unite

• By Ralph C. Jensen
• Dec 24, 2009

 

Steve Walin, Chairman,SAMSUNG | GVI Security.

You've known SAMSUNG | GVI Security for years, but what you might not have known is that the publicly traded company is now private with years of experience as a backdrop. And, in a rather interesting turn of events, Samsung Techwin, Samsung/GVI Security and Samsung Electronics will merge their Samsung brands under a single label, effective Jan. 1.

Lloyd Trotter, previously with GE Security, is the founder and managing partner of GenX360, a Capital Partners private equity firm, which has purchased SAMSUNG/GVI Security . The changes in format are actually pretty exciting as GVI Security chairman Steve Walin now partners with Trotter rather than answering to a host of stockholders.

Walin and Trotter spent several years together at GE Security and together bring a wealth of knowledge and experience. Walin has been at GVI Security for the past several years, and teamwork will only enhance the possibilities.

 

Lloyd Trotter, founder and managing partner, GenX360.

"Experience in the business will help us grow," Trotter said. "Now, we can focus on key contacts in the security industry because the resources are in place and, experience will help us open doors that may not have previously been open."

Growth may well come quickly from the merger of the Samsung product line. An announcement of the merger is expected quickly from the Samsung Group level in Korea, ending confusion in the market over the past few years concerning Samsung products. The plan is to organize the separate video surveillance operations into one Samsung security business.

"The security space has legs; that will help us with any consolidation opportunities," Trotter said. "We are looking to add resources to accelerate growth, which enhances the capability to grow."

Mergers and acquisitions play a key role in any industry, and the same is true in the security space. Trotter has a firm grip on the pulse of the industry, who also said GenX360 plans to look at and acquire businesses that are similar to GVI.