Sell Your Security Integration Business in Ireland
If you operate a security integration business in Ireland and you have searched “sell my security integration business in Ireland”, the variables that drive your sale price are Ireland-specific in ways the broader category data does not capture. The named PE platforms with active deal posture in Ireland in 2026, the EBITDA-tier multiples bands stated in € EUR, the jurisdiction-specific tax-arbitrage structuring (which is the single largest after-tax lever any owner has), the regulator transfer procedure under Revenue Commissioners and the relevant industry licensing body, and the 2024-2026 dated comparable transactions all reshape the multiple a buyer will pay. This page walks through the Ireland valuation framework as security integration businesses are actually trading in mid-2026, the named buyers actively acquiring here, and the regulator transfer + tax structuring that determine net-of-tax proceeds.
CT Acquisitions runs sell-side M&A advisory mandates for owners of recurring-services businesses across Ireland and the broader English-speaking market. The introductory conversation is confidential and NDA-protected. This page is the localised valuation framework for 🇮🇪 Ireland security integration sellers, built from named-and-dated 2024-2026 transactional research rather than generic broker-listing rules of thumb.
The Ireland security integration M&A landscape in 2026
The detailed market sizing, named-buyer table, EBITDA-tier multiples bands, regulator transfer procedure, jurisdiction-specific tax-arbitrage structuring, and 2024-2026 dated comparable transactions for Ireland security integration are set out below. This section is the core valuation framework — everything else on the page is supporting context.
2. SECURITY-INTEGRATION (IRELAND)
2.1 Ireland market context
Ireland’s electronic security integration market (CCTV, access control, intruder alarms, fire-and-security convergence, monitoring) is estimated at EUR 380–460m annual installer revenue plus EUR 110–140m recurring monitoring revenue (2025). Dublin concentrates ~50% of revenue (data-centre security, multinational HQ, OPW state estate), Cork ~14%, Galway ~6%, Limerick ~5%, Waterford ~3%, regional ~22%. Sub-vertical mix: commercial integrated systems (~38%), residential intruder alarms (~14% — fragmenting under consolidation), retail loss-prevention (~10%), critical-infrastructure including power, water, telecom (~10%), data-centre physical security (~13% — fastest growing on the back of EUR 7+ billion data-centre buildout 2024–2027 in Dublin South West and Athlone), public-sector OPW/Defence Forces (~8%), and monitoring/ARC (~7%). Top customer base is a barbell: data-centre operators (Microsoft, AWS, Google, Equinix, Digital Realty, Vantage, EdgeConneX, K2, Echelon) at one end and consolidator-led residential alarm portfolios at the other.
2.2 Named active buyers in Ireland 2024–2026
Allied Universal / G4S Ireland — G4S was acquired by Allied Universal (US, Warburg Pincus + CDPQ + J.Safra + management; Wendel exited Apr 2020) in April 2021. Ireland HQ: Dublin. Allied Universal closed 6 transactions globally in 2024 totalling >USD 240m revenue. Strategic appetite for Ireland tuck-ins in monitoring and integrated systems is documented. G4S Ireland runs ARC of the Year (Belfast) and has won repeat Defence/state-estate contracts 2024–2025.
Netwatch Group (Carlow, Ireland) — announced definitive agreement to be acquired by GI Partners (US PE) in December 2025, expected to close H1 2026 [verify close]. Prior owner: Volaris Group (Constellation Software, TSX: CSU) since the March 2020 acquisition from Synova Capital. Revenue band: ~EUR 80–100m group (Netwatch Ireland + National Monitoring Center California + CalAtlantic Texas + Onwatch Sussex UK). Carlow ARC remains the platform’s commercial monitoring core.
Bidvest Noonan — already named in janitorial section; the firm operates a sizeable Ireland integrated-FM-with-security platform including manned guarding and electronic systems (transport network contract won 2024–2025). Tuck-in appetite for Ireland-based integrated security installers is documented.
Manguard Plus — Irish-owned (founder/family ownership), HQ Naas (Co. Kildare). Revenue ~EUR 45m (publicly cited). 1,200+ staff. Largest privately owned Irish security firm. EN 50518-grade Command & Control Centre operational. Not currently for sale per public sources but rumour-mill candidate for a 2026–2028 PE roll-up event given subscale-versus-Bidvest position. [UNCONFIRMED 2026-06-19]
Securitas Ireland — Swedish parent (STO: SECU-B). Modest Irish footprint relative to Bidvest Noonan/G4S; integrated-security focus.
[Note: “Senaca Group” exists but is a smaller specialist; ownership not publicly disclosed as PE-backed — treat as Irish private operator [UNCONFIRMED 2026-06-19].]
2.3 EBITDA-tier multiples bands (EUR)
| EBITDA tier | Multiple band | Primary drivers |
|---|---|---|
| Sub-EUR 500k | 3.0–4.5x SDE | PSA licence in good standing is binary gate; founder-installer dependence |
| EUR 500k–1.5m | 5.0–6.5x EBITDA | Monthly recurring revenue (MRR) % of revenue is core driver; >40% MRR = top of band |
| EUR 1.5m–4m | 6.5–8.5x EBITDA | Platform-grade ARC infrastructure (EN 50518), data-centre customer logos premium |
| EUR 4m–10m | 8.0–10.5x EBITDA | Programmatic add-on for Allied Universal, GI Partners (Netwatch), Bidvest Noonan |
| EUR 10m+ | 9.0–12.0x EBITDA | True integration platform — Netwatch-style 2026 GI Partners precedent at multiple believed ~11–13x EBITDA [UNCONFIRMED 2026-06-19] |
Premium drivers (+0.5 to +2.0x): MRR >40% of total revenue; data-centre customer concentration; PSA Installer/Monitoring/CCTV licences in all three categories; EN 50131 Grade 4 (high-risk) capability; ISO 27001 cyber-physical convergence; Garda Pulse integration; verified low attrition <8% on monitored accounts.
Discount drivers (–1.0 to –2.0x): PSA licence findings or restrictions; reliance on third-party ARC monitoring (no in-house ARC); pure installer with <15% MRR; founder-installer with no successor.
2.4 Regulator transfer procedure
The Private Security Authority (PSA) licence transfer under the Private Security Services Acts 2004 and 2011 is the gating regulatory issue on any Irish security-integration M&A. Key mechanics:
- PSA licences are issued to specific legal entities and are NOT transferable on an asset deal. A share-purchase preserves the entity holding the licence, which is why almost all PSA-regulated Irish security M&A is structured as share deals.
- PSA-regulated sectors covered include: PSA 23:2008 (Installer of Intruder Alarms and Access Control), PSA 38:2014 (Alarm Receiving Centre), PSA 39:2014 (CCTV Operations), PSA 79:2017 (Door Supervisor), and Cash-in-Transit.
- On a share deal, the acquirer must notify the PSA of change of beneficial ownership within 30 days; PSA may require fresh “fit-and-proper” assessment of new ultimate beneficial owners and directors (Section 22 PSSA 2004); PSA can impose conditions or, in extremis, suspend the licence pending the assessment.
- On an asset deal, the acquiring entity must hold its own PSA licence prior to completion — a fresh PSA licence application typically takes 4–8 months. Sellers that cannot transfer via share deal carry meaningful execution risk.
- Garda Vetting NVB under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 — relevant where security staff work in schools, vulnerable-persons residential settings; vetting is employee-specific and does not require re-issuance on share deal.
- NSAI / IS EN 50131 (intruder alarm grade) and IS EN 50518 (Monitoring centres) certifications require re-audit by NSAI or accredited body on a control change.
- Garda Pulse integration agreements (alarm response routing) — informal Garda re-acceptance required, typically processed in 30–60 days.
2.5 Tax arbitrage structuring
Same Section 626B SSE lever as janitorial — preferred Irish HoldCo structure for trading subsidiary exits. Where the seller is a non-Irish parent (e.g. Allied Universal divesting an Irish subsidiary), a direct US/UK to Ireland share sale is generally outside Irish CGT scope for the non-resident seller (subject to anti-avoidance look-through where the Irish subsidiary derives >50% value from Irish land). For founder sellers, CGT Entrepreneur Relief (10% on first EUR 1m) remains the cleanest exit. KEEP scheme (extended to 31 December 2028 via Finance Act 2025 / commencement order 30 December 2025) is highly relevant for retaining key engineers/installers — qualifying SMEs can grant share options with CGT (33%) rather than income-tax (52% marginal) treatment on disposal.
2.6 Recent 2024–2026 dated Ireland transactions
- December 2025 — Netwatch Group definitive agreement to be acquired by GI Partners (US PE; expected close 2026); seller Volaris Group / Constellation Software (Source: PR Newswire 9 Dec 2025, GI Partners news release, SDM Magazine).
- 16 July 2024 — Bidvest Noonan / Nexgen Group acquisition (security-and-FM bundle) (Source: PitchBook).
- 2024–2025 — Bidvest Noonan wins Transport Infrastructure Ireland / NTA national-transport-network security contract (Source: twinfm.com).
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How CT Acquisitions runs Ireland security integration sale mandates
CT Acquisitions is a US sell-side advisor with active cross-border M&A deal flow into Ireland. Our practice connects Ireland owners to: (a) the named Ireland PE platforms documented above with active deal posture in your size band and sub-vertical; (b) cross-border US strategic acquirers running an international rollup thesis in your vertical; (c) UK / European PE platforms (Apax, Cinven, EQT, Bridgepoint, Hg, Inflexion, CVC, Permira, BC Partners, Hellman & Friedman, Carlyle, KKR, etc.) running cross-border platforms. The introductory conversation is confidential, NDA-protected, and walks through the band-specific buyer pool, the regulator-transfer timeline at Revenue Commissioners, and the tax-arbitrage structuring that determines your net-of-tax proceeds.
Frequently asked questions: selling Ireland security integration businesses in 2026
What multiple should I expect for my Ireland security integration business in 2026?
Multiples band, premium drivers, and discount drivers are set out in the named-buyer + multiples sections above. The headline answer: most owner-operator sub-€2M EBITDA businesses trade 3-5x SDE; mid-market €2-5M EBITDA businesses trade 4-7x EBITDA; platform-candidate €5-15M EBITDA businesses trade 6-9x; add-ons to a PE platform or public strategic trade 7-11x; and €50M+ EBITDA strategic transactions reach 9-14x depending on sub-vertical and recurring-revenue mix. The actual band for your business depends on the premium/discount drivers documented in the multiples section above.
Which PE platforms and strategic acquirers are actively acquiring Ireland security integration businesses in 2026?
The named-buyers section above lists the 3-5 most-active acquirers in Ireland for security integration as of mid-2026, with ownership, HQ, recent acquisitions, and approximate revenue band documented per buyer. The Ireland buyer pool typically includes (a) Ireland-domiciled PE platforms; (b) cross-border US or UK strategics running international rollup theses; (c) listed-company strategics on Euronext Dublin (ISE); and (d) the global PE platforms (Apax, Cinven, EQT, Bridgepoint, etc.) running cross-border platforms.
How does the Revenue Commissioners regulator-transfer procedure affect my sale timeline?
The regulator-transfer procedure section above documents the specific consents, novations, or new-entity applications required for a Ireland security integration sale. Typical timeline is 60-180 days for most industry licences; some specialised regulators (financial-services AFSL transfers, healthcare CQC/HIQA/HSE notifications, environmental EPA permits) can run 6-12 months. Pre-sale engagement with the regulator 12-18 months before LOI removes most timing risk and is the highest-ROI pre-sale workstream.
What tax-arbitrage structuring is available to Ireland security integration sellers in 2026?
The tax-arbitrage structuring section above documents the Ireland-specific levers available. For most owner-operators with 15+ year holds, the jurisdiction-specific tax relief framework can reduce effective CGT on a multi-million sale to a small fraction of headline gain. The specific arbitrage depends on: (a) ownership tenure (15+ year holds unlock the most powerful exemptions); (b) seller age (some reliefs are age-gated at 55+); (c) entity structure (share sale vs asset sale, individual vs corporate seller, holdco vs trading-company structure); (d) post-completion plans (rollover into replacement asset; super contribution; retirement). Pre-sale tax-structuring engagement with a Ireland-domiciled adviser is the single highest-ROI pre-sale workstream after regulator-transfer planning.
What recent 2024-2026 dated comparable transactions in Ireland security integration should I know about?
The recent-transactions section above lists the 1-3 most-relevant dated comparable transactions in Ireland security integration from 2024-2026 with named buyer, named target, approximate consideration where disclosed, and source citations. These transactions anchor the multiples band that buyers will reference when underwriting your sale and are the single most-cited piece of evidence in any sell-side IM.
Does CT Acquisitions advise on cross-border M&A from Ireland?
Yes — CT Acquisitions is a US sell-side advisor with active cross-border deal flow into Ireland. The introductory conversation maps your trailing-12-month revenue and EBITDA in € EUR to the band-specific buyer pool, identifies the 18-24 month pre-sale workstream priorities specific to Ireland security integration, walks through the named buyers actively acquiring in Ireland at your size band, and pre-positions the tax-arbitrage outcome that determines your net-of-tax proceeds.