{{Short description|Private security company in the United States}} {{Infobox company | name = Universal Protection Service | logo = Universal_Protection_Service_logo.jpg | type = Private | foundation = 1965 | founder = Steve Jones<br/>Brian Cescolini | defunct = {{End date|2017}} | fate = Merged with AlliedBarton | successor = Allied Universal | location = Santa Ana, California | hq_location_country = U.S. | locations = | area_served = | industry = Security | products = | homepage = }}
'''Universal Protection Service''' was a private security company in the United States. It was part of Santa Ana, California-based '''Universal Services of America''', which merged in 2016 with fellow security service provider AlliedBarton to form Allied Universal.<ref name=facility1/> ==History== Universal Protection Service was founded in 1965.<ref name=memphis1>{{cite news|last1=Nichols|first1=Meagan|title=Memphis security giant Guardsmark bought|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2015/07/28/memphis-security-giant-guardsmark-bought.html|accessdate=August 19, 2016|work=Memphis Business Journal|date=July 28, 2015}}</ref> It started as a janitorial company and expanded into security by 1969. After acquiring the security business, the company was divided into four different divisions, under parent Universal Services, to reflect the company's overall business.<ref name=ocbj3>{{cite news|title=Universal Protection Buys Mall Security Specialist|url=https://www.ocbj.com/news/2013/nov/26/universal-protection-buys-mall-security-specialist/|accessdate=February 11, 2021|work=Orange County Business Journal|date=July 28, 2015}}</ref><ref name=dnb1/>{{cn|date=February 2021}}
In 2013, the Swiss investment firm Partners Group made an equity investment in the company.<ref name=ocbj1/>
In November 2013, the company acquired Bannockburn, Illinois-based venue security company IPC International, at the time the company's largest acquisition.<ref name=ocbj2>{{cite web|url=https://www.ocbj.com/news/2013/nov/26/universal-protection-buys-mall-security-specialist/|title=Universal Protection Buys Mall Security Specialist|website=Orange County Business Journal |date=November 26, 2016 |accessdate=February 11, 2021}}</ref>
By 2015, the company was operating as a division of Universal Services of America. In February, Robert Stone, a former employee of Universal Protection Service filed an arbitration claim alleging that the company failed to pay overtime wages for all hours worked as well as minimum wage. Stone also asserted claims of additional wage violations including meal period and rest period violations, allegedly in violation of California and federal wage law. The company denied the allegations, but entered into a $30 million settlement to avoid the cost of litigation. The settlement was granted preliminary approval on November 22, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=ILYM Group|url=https://upssettlement.com/|website=Upssettlement.com|access-date=January 2, 2019}}</ref> In July 2015, Universal Services of America received an ownership investment from investment firm Warburg Pincus, joining earlier owner investment firm Partners Group.<ref name=ocbj1>{{cite web|url=https://www.ocbj.com/news/2015/jul/13/warburg-pincus-set-take-stake-universal/|title=Warburg Pincus Set to Take Stake in Universal |website=Orange County Business Journal |date=July 13, 2015 |accessdate=February 3, 2021}}</ref> Also in July, parent Universal Services acquired Memphis, Tennessee-based security firm Guardsmark, and became the largest privately owned security contractor in the US.<ref name=memphis1/><ref name=commercial1>{{cite news|last1=Mckenzie|first1=Kevin|title=Guardsmark, founded in Memphis, is sold to California security service firm|url=http://www.commercialappeal.com/business/guardsmark-founded-in-memphis-is-sold-to-california-security-service-firm-ep-1207844194-323626001.html|accessdate=August 19, 2016|work=The Commercial Appeal|date=July 28, 2015}}</ref> Guardsmark's founder, Ira A. Lipman, joined UPS's board as vice chairman.<ref name=memphis1/>
In 2016, Universal Services of America merged with fellow security services firm AlliedBarton to form Allied Universal.<ref name=facility1>{{Cite news|url=http://facilityexecutive.com/2016/08/merger-creates-allied-universal-security-services/|title=New Allied Universal Formed, Offers Security Services|last=Cosgrove|first=Anne|date=August 1, 2016|newspaper=Facility Executive - Creating Intelligent Buildings|language=en-US|access-date=February 11, 2021}}</ref> In February 2017, the company officially began operations under its new name.
==Operations== Universal Protection Service offered security services and was located in Santa Ana, California. It was a division of Universal Services of America, with three other divisions: Universal Building Maintenance (janitorial and maintenance), Universal Protection Security Systems (security system installation and management), and Universal Fire/Life Safety (fire safety planning and training).<ref name=dnb1>{{cite web|url=https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company-profiles.universal_services_of_america_lp.42791550cd3316e114decbc4b8705edf.html|title=Company profile |website=Dun & Bradstreet |date= |accessdate=February 11, 2021}}</ref> Universal Services of America was owned by investment firms is owned Warburg Pincus and Partners Group.<ref name=memphis1/>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Universal Protection Service}} Category:Business services companies established in 1965 Category:Companies based in Santa Ana, California Category:1965 establishments in California Category:Warburg Pincus companies