Controlled Access - Bravaldo Capital Advisors

March 1, 2024 - Bravaldo Capital Advisors, Inc. (“BCA”) is pleased to announce the successful sale of its client, Controlled Access, Inc. (“CAI” or the “Company”), a Marietta, Georgia based integrator of security and access control solutions, to Guardian Access Solutions, a provider of maintenance, repair, and installation of exterior access control equipment in the Southeast U.S., and a portfolio company of CenterOak Partners.

Johanna Brookner and Catherine Shields, CAI owners, stated, “It was time to consider a sale of CAI after our husbands founded the Company more than 30 years ago. As non-operating owners, it was reassuring to have BCA as our M&A advisor, working in conjunction with our advisory board to carefully explain the process and then successfully execute it. BCA did an amazing job of preparing the business and management team, targeting the right buyers, and fostering competition to achieve a highly successful sale for the Company, its employees, and our families.”

Don Bravaldo, President of Bravaldo Capital Advisors, added, “We are honored to serve as the M&A advisor to CAI, and Johanna and Catherine as owners. We knew how important this transaction would be financially to the shareholders, but of equal importance, it also served to simplify their retirement. Reid Buchanan, General Manager, and other key managers at CAI did an incredible job of building a leading security and access controls integration firm in the metro Atlanta area and other key markets. With a management team that went beyond the call of duty, it was very satisfying to complete a transaction that was successful for all stakeholders.”

Controlled Access, Inc. (www.caisystems.com) is a Marietta, Georgia based leading access controls integrator that specializes in the design, installation, maintenance and repair of automated gate systems, access control systems, video surveillance components, audiovisual (AV) solutions, and other low voltage systems. Founded in 1993, CAI has established itself as a trusted and reliable partner to Southeast-based general contractors, developers, and property managers involved in new construction and retrofitting projects across multifamily, residential, government/municipal, and commercial end-markets.

Guardian Access Solutions (www.guardianaccess.com) provides maintenance, repair, and installation of exterior access control equipment including automatic gates, parking equipment, CCTVs, door access control systems, and overhead doors. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee with additional locations in Georgia and Florida, Guardian serves a diverse set of commercial and industrial customers. Guardian differentiates itself through its broad equipment offering, skilled technicians and dedicated service call teams across the Southeast.

CenterOak Partners (www.centeroakpartners.com) is a Dallas, Texas based private equity firm with a focus on making control-oriented investments in middle market companies. The Firm invests in Business Services, Industrial Services and Consumer Essential Services companies. CenterOak has a history of creating significant value through operational improvements. CenterOak and its Partners have managed $2.5 billion of equity capital commitments and have completed more than 150 transactions, representing over $8 billion in value.

Bravaldo Capital Advisors, Inc. (www.bravaldocapitaladvisors.com) is a boutique Atlanta based mergers & acquisitions and corporate finance advisory firm, providing independent economic and financial advice and execution services for lower middle market companies in a variety of industries with revenues typically between $10 million and $300 million. BCA offers a full range of transaction and advisory services, guiding clients through sell-side transactions and exit strategy planning, growth through acquisition, debt restructuring and corporate recapitalization. The BCA team is a senior deal team with extensive knowledge and insight into the full life cycle of M&A and corporate finance engagements.

Press Release