WASHINGTON- Kastle Systems International LLC, the established leader in building and office security systems, has been sold to Mark Ein, an experienced venture capitalist and entrepreneur, who is making a long-term commitment to investment in the growth of the security systems leader and to the expansion of Kastle's client base in the United States and abroad.
Kastle, with over 475 employees, secures, from its offsite operations centers, more than 1,800 properties encompassing 316 million square feet of office space in the United States and Australia. Kastle, headquarted in the Washington, D.C. area, also serves its clients through regional offices in New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Sydney, Australia.
A. Gene Samburg, founder and chief executive officer of Kastle, who will continue to head the company, said: "Kastle is a pioneer in electronic security systems that provide vital and unparalleled services to our clients. By completing this transaction with Mark Ein, who has a strong track record of growing successful and innovative companies, Kastle will provide new products and higher levels of service to our existing clients and to new clients in new markets. Mark adds capital, energy, experience, and a dedication to Kastle's long-term growth."
Mark Ein, who is also the founder and chief executive officer of Venturehouse Holdings, LLC said: "Over the last 34 years, Kastle has grown steadily and profitably, with sales growing at a compounded annual rate of 20.1% over its lifetime, to become one of the pre-eminent building security systems providers in the United States. With security concerns fueling increased demand for expert security services, we look forward to Kastle growing and expanding to meet our clients' urgent needs not only in the United States but also internationally."
"Gene and I have told Kastle's employees exactly what the plan is going forward: greater growth in the company, more investment in domestic and foreign markets, and continuity in Kastle's leadership and service for our private sector and government clients."
The terms of the transaction will remain confidential.
Kastle Systems, founded in 1972 by A. Gene Samburg, is the only national company that operates and manages its clients' security systems for them on an ongoing basis. Kastle's innovations include: the ability for a client's traveling employees to use a single card to access both offices and buildings in multiple cities; simplified and expedited visitor processing; and security via a low-cost, high speed Internet connection to Kastle's offsite operations centers. For more information about Kastle Systems, visit the Kastle website.
Mark Ein is the founder and chief executive officer of Venturehouse Holdings, LLC, a holding company that creates, invests in, grows and builds technology and telecommunications companies in partnership with management. Venturehouse's prior investments include the initial seed investment in Matrics Technology, the lead investment in the acquisitions of Cibernet Corporation and VSGi and an early investment in XM Satellite Radio. Prior to forming Venturehouse, he was a principal with The Carlyle Group and an associate with Goldman Sachs and Brentwood Associates. Mr. Ein is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and received his MBA from Harvard Business School. A native of Washington, D.C., Mr. Ein is a native of the Washington D.C. area and is deeply committed to the region, supporting many charitable and community organizations.