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Friday, Jun 19, 2026

Universal Protection Buys Georgia Company

Universal Protection Service in Santa Ana has acquired in Augusta, Ga.-based Regent Security Services Inc.

Terms were undisclosed.

Universal Protection is the security division of Santa Ana-based Universal Services of America, which also operates a building-maintenance business.

Universal Services was among the fastest-growing private companies in Orange County last year, ranked at No. 60 on the Business Journal list. It had about $329.9 million in revenue for the year ended last June, a 46% jump over two years. It also is among the largest local employers, with more than 1,700 workers here. The company has more than 15,000 employees overall, across 25 offices in California, Arizona, Colorado and Texas.

Regent Security’s operations are concentrated in the Southeastern U.S. with locations across Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. The company has about $16 million in annual sales and more than 1,000 employees.

“The acquisition will strengthen our investment in the southeastern states,” said Brian Cescolini, chairman and co-chief executive at Universal Services of America.

Regent Security specializes in the manufacturing industry. It has worked with Cincinnati, Ohio-based Procter & Gamble Co.; International Paper Co. in Memphis, Tenn.; and Atlanta-based Georgia-Pacific LLC.

Universal Protection’s latest deal comes about a month after it bought San Diego-based Heritage Security Services. Heritage Security began working at John Wayne Airport earlier this year, providing private armed security guards.

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