GardaWorld was founded by President & CEO Stephan Crétier with an initial investment of only $25,000 under the name Trans-Quebec Security Inc. The company completed its year of operations with $600,000+ in revenue.
Trans-Quebec Security changed its name to Trans-Canada Security Corporation and went public on the Alberta Stock Exchange (now the TSV Venture) at C$0.10/share. The company completed its first acquisition – Admari Group in Quebec City.
Trans-Canada Security Corporation purchased Garda Security Group, one of the leading security providers in Eastern Canada. The company became Garda World Security Corporation.
GardaWorld recorded $73M in operating profits having expanded its activities in Canada and successfully entered a new sector: Security Consulting and Investigation Services.
GardaWorld became publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (GW) and received approval to begin trading its Class “A” shares at C$1.35/share.
The company entered the cash handling services market with the acquisition of Secur, the $48M armored truck division of the Quebec credit union Desjardins. This was GardaWorld’s ninth acquisition and gave the company a strong position in Eastern Canada.
GardaWorld began its partnership with the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), after winning the contract to perform pre-boarding security screening at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The company stepped up to the challenge and created a world class screening operation now present in 28 airports across Canada.
The company started to expand its global protective services throughout the Middle East by merging high-threat operations of Vance International and consulting firm Kroll Security International.
GardaWorld continued the expansion and consolidation of its cash services presence in Midwestern United States with the acquisition of seven local companies.
GardaWorld was named “publicly traded Company of the Year” by Les Affaires, a leading business weekly newspaper in Canada.
GardaWorld entered the international scene with operations in emerging markets worldwide with its Global Risk Consulting Group.
GardaWorld consolidated its leadership position in the diplomatic security market as it secured a $100M+ contract with the United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to provide security services for the British Embassy in Baghdad and the British Embassy Office in Basra, Iraq.
In Switzerland, GardaWorld was a founding signatory of the Steering Committee for the final negotiations of the Charter to form the Oversight Mechanism of the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC). As such, the company became a board member of the Committee.
Stephan Crétier was named among the most influential Canadian CEOs of the decade.
GardaWorld expanded its expertise of special events security in Canada with the acquisition of Kolossal Security.
GardaWorld was taken private by a group led by GardaWorld’s Founder, Chairman and CEO Stephan Crétier and the financial backing from a leading private equity investment group, Apax Partners.
CEO Stephan Crétier was the recipient of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II Medal.
The company redefined its branding in order to consolidate its assets and increase its international notoriety.
GardaWorld Security Services continues its consolidation of the Canadian market with the strategic acquisitions of Intercon Security and Total Security Management.
GardaWorld Cash Services signed a 12-year, $1.4 billion strategic agreement with Bank of America to manage its cash processing and check imaging services in 32 locations across the USA. More than 1,000 Bank of America employees joined GardaWorld as a result.
GardaWorld Cash Services completed the acquisition of G4S Cash Solutions in Canada and integrates its 2,400 employees to its operations.
GardaWorld acquired Aegis Group, a leading provider of highly specialized protective services, expanding its presence across 10 African and Middle Eastern markets.
GardaWorld entered into an agreement in June for the acquisition of KK Security to further increase its presence in Africa. The transaction closed in December of 2016.
GardaWorld Aviation Services signed a five-year contract with the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) for pre-board screening operations in the Central and the Prairies regions of Canada.
GardaWorld founder Stephan Cretier and Rhone Capital, a global leader in alternative investments, complete the purchase of all GardaWorld shares previously held by Apax Partners. In parallel with the transaction, GardaWorld announces the securing of $2.2 billion CDN in refinancing for its credit facilities and senior notes.
Significant expansion in security services in the United States with the purchase of United American Security LLC (UAS), which has 24 branches and 3,600 employees in 16 states. This acquisition allows GardaWorld to develop a North American security services platform.
Acquisition of NYA, a global risk and crisis management consultancy with one of the largest and most experienced crisis intervention teams in the world.
Whelan Security, a leading security player, significantly expanding GardaWorld's U.S. presence with 34 branches and 10,000 employees across 31 US states. Additional acquisitions of ECAMSecure in the U.S. and Drum Cussac in the U.K
Founder, Chairman & CEO Stephan Crétier and BC Partners complete recapitalization of GardaWorld for C$5.2 Billion, marking the largest private buyout in Canadian history.
GardaWorld Travel Security joined forces with Drum Cussac, NYA and FAM International Security to take risk management to the next level as new brand Crisis24.
Acquired WorldAware, a leading security risk management firm based in the United States.
