Group Led by Founder, Chairman & CEO Stephan Crétier and BC Partners to Recapitalize GardaWorld in Transaction Valued at C$5.2 Billion

Transaction marks Canada's largest private buyout

MONTREAL and NEW YORK, July 23, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - Alongside Founder, Chairman and CEO Stephan Crétier, funds advised by BC Partners ("BC Partners"), a leading international private investment firm, and others have reached a definitive agreement to acquire Rhône Group's equity interest in Garda World Security Corporation ("GardaWorld"), the largest privately-owned security and cash services company in the world, in a C$5.2 billion recapitalization. Following the transaction close, BC Partners will have a 51% common equity interest in GardaWorld while Stephan Crétier, together with select members of management, will hold 49%.

Founded in 1995 by CEO Stephan Crétier, GardaWorld is the world's largest privately-owned security services company. Headquartered in Montreal, the company is regarded as an industry leader and offers a wide range of physical and specialized security solutions, as well as end-to-end cash management. It serves a diverse clientele of private companies, governments, humanitarian organizations and multinationals with its employee base of over 92,000 professionals across North American and EMEA.

"GardaWorld has come a long way since its humble beginnings when I started this company with a C$25,000 second mortgage on my home 25 years ago. Today, our operations take us from our head office in Montreal, Quebec to the oil fields of Iraq; from protecting embassies in Africa to serving major U.S. financial institutions and securing Canadian airports. At this juncture of our evolution and as we enter our next phase of growth, I am truly excited to partner with BC Partners, who is the ideal co-shareholder to fuel our continued growth as we pursue our path to become a true global champion in the security services sector," stated Stephan Crétier.

"We look forward to partnering with GardaWorld's founder Stephan Crétier and management team to further grow the company in the attractive security services industry, which we believe offers significant opportunities for consolidation. We admire GardaWorld's unique entrepreneurial culture and superior operating model, which have contributed to its track record of best-in-class performance over the years. Looking forward, we are confident that our partnership will add significant value as the company continues to expand its reach," said Paolo Notarnicola, lead deal Partner for BC Partners.