Pinkerton’s Acquires British Security Firm

Pinkerton’s Inc., a Van Nuys-based security services company, said it has bought Argus Shield, a British security firm, from General Trust PIC and the Daily Mail.

Pinkerton’s said it paid more than $10 million for Argus, which was purchased Oct. 14.

Argus Shield was founded in 1984 by Terry O’Neil and Stuart Lowden, who will remain with Pinkerton’s as part of the company’s new executive management team in Britain, Pinkerton’s said. Argus had sales of about $27 million last year, Pinkerton’s said.

As a result of the acquisition, Pinkerton’s is now one of the largest security firms in Great Britain and is well-positioned for future expansion into Europe, the company said. Pinkerton’s has more than 200 offices in the United States, Canada, Britain and Mexico, and employs more than 40,000 field personnel around the world.