Cobb Reporter

Bravaldo Capital Advisors, Inc. (BCA) has announced the successful sale of its client, Controlled Access, Inc. (CAI), a Marietta, Georgia-based integrator of security and access control solutions. The buyer is 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, owners of CAI, remarked on the decision to sell: “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, commented on their role: “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 equally important; it also served to simplify their retirement. Reid Buchanan, General Manager, and other key managers at CAI did an incredible job building a leading security and access controls integration firm in metro Atlanta 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 specializes in designing, installing, maintaining, and repairing automated gate systems; access control systems; video surveillance components; audiovisual solutions; and other low voltage systems. Founded in 1993 in Marietta by Brookner's husband Gary Brookner along with Bill Shields' wife Catherine Shields' late husband Bob Shields they have become trusted partners for general contractors across various sectors.

Guardian Access Solutions offers services related to automatic gates; parking equipment; CCTVs; door access control systems; overhead doors among others across commercial/industrial customer base spread throughout Southeast US region from headquarters based out Nashville TN supplemented by additional locations GA FL states respectively differentiating itself through broad equipment offering skilled technicians dedicated service call teams.

CenterOak Partners is headquartered Dallas TX focused making control-oriented investments middle market companies specializing Business Services Industrial Consumer Essential Services sectors historically creating significant value operational improvements managing $2.5 billion equity capital commitments completing over 150 transactions totaling $8 billion value collectively.

Bravaldo Capital Advisors based Atlanta provides independent economic financial advice execution services lower middle market companies typically generating revenues between $10 million-$300 million guiding clients through sell-side transactions exit strategy planning growth acquisition debt restructuring corporate recapitalization led senior deal team possessing extensive knowledge insight full lifecycle M&A corporate finance engagements.

For further information contact Don Bravaldo at dbravaldo@bc-advisors.com or Mark Heyman at mheyman@bc-advisors.com or via phone at 404-857-2221.

The post originally appeared on Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s website.