Deal Timeline

Plotted by close date where disclosed, otherwise announcement. Select any marker to jump to the deal entry.

The Acquisition Playbook.

Three patterns run through ADT's acquisitions — what it looks for, how it pays, and how it folds in what it buys.

01
Acquisition criteria
Buy the channel, then own the customer.
ADT's two largest deals absorbed businesses it already worked with — its largest independent dealer (Defenders, ~$290M in 2020) and, on the commercial side, Red Hawk Fire & Security (~$318M in 2018) — bringing sales, installation and commercial fire capabilities in-house rather than renting them.
Sunpro Solar (Compass Solar Group, LLC)Red Hawk Fire & Security (Fire & Security Holdings, LLC)Defenders (Defender Holdings, Inc.)Cell BounceLifeShield
02
Capital deployment
Adjacency bets that expand the 'safe, smart home.
' ADT repeatedly bought capabilities to widen its offering beyond core monitoring: cybersecurity (DataShield, Secure Designs), DIY self-setup security (LifeShield), and residential solar via Sunpro Solar, which it rebranded ADT Solar to cross-sell energy to its ~6 million customers.
Sunpro Solar (Compass Solar Group, LLC)Red Hawk Fire & Security (Fire & Security Holdings, LLC)Defenders (Defender Holdings, Inc.)Cell BounceLifeShield
03
Integration approach
Willing to exit what doesn't compound.
ADT's largest acquisition became its clearest reversal: after rebranding Sunpro as ADT Solar in 2021, it began rationalizing the business in November 2023, decided in January 2024 to exit the Solar Business entirely, and had substantially ceased solar operations by June 30, 2024 — and separately divested its commercial business (which included Red Hawk) to GTCR in October 2023.
Sunpro Solar (Compass Solar Group, LLC)Red Hawk Fire & Security (Fire & Security Holdings, LLC)Defenders (Defender Holdings, Inc.)Cell BounceLifeShield

The Full Deal Book

7 acquisitions — each with the deal value, financing structure, target revenue, and executive commentary where disclosed.

01 Sunpro Solar (Compass Solar Group, LLC) · Mandeville, Louisiana / United States (56 locations across 22 states) $750M
Announced Nov 2021 Closed Dec 2021 Combination
residential rooftop solar salesdesigninstallation and maintenancesolar energy systemshome energy management

Sunpro Solar, founded in 2008, marketed, designed, sold, installed and maintained rooftop solar power systems for residential and commercial properties through a full-time workforce of roughly 3,600 solar professionals across 56 locations in 22 states, and was ranked the #2 U.S. residential rooftop solar contractor for 2021. ADT rebranded the business as ADT Solar to enter the residential solar market. ADT subsequently rationalized the operation, decided in January 2024 to exit the Solar Business entirely, and had substantially ceased all solar operations as of June 30, 2024. Approximately $750 million total consideration (cash of ~$142 million net of cash acquired plus ~75 million ADT shares valued at ~$569 million, including ~5 million shares issuable through 2022); announced with an implied enterprise value of ~$825 million ($160 million cash plus ~77.8 million shares).

Why it was attractive
  • Cash-flow-positive
  • asset-light business with 90% year-over-year installation growth in 2020 and four-plus consecutive years of positive EBITDA
  • acquired at roughly 10x estimated next-twelve-months standalone EBITDA
With its strong focus on the customer, Sunpro is the perfect partner for ADT and a logical extension of our ecosystem, unlocking an integrated home experience that includes security, automation, and energy management. By combining a cash-flow-positive company in the high-growth solar space with ADT's trusted brand, national footprint, and cross-sell potential, we can expand offerings to our customers and accelerate growth for both ADT and ADT Solar.Jim DeVries — President and Chief Executive Officer, ADT Inc.
Becoming part of the ADT family will accelerate our ability to bring residential and commercial rooftop solar to more customers, helping them save money and also become more energy independent.Marc Jones — Founder, Sunpro Solar
02 Red Hawk Fire & Security (Fire & Security Holdings, LLC) · United States $318M
Closed Dec 2018 All cash
commercial fire detection and life safetyintegrated commercial security systemsmonitoring and service

Red Hawk Fire & Security, held through Fire & Security Holdings, LLC, was a leader in commercial fire, life safety, and security services. ADT acquired all of its issued and outstanding capital stock on December 3, 2018 to significantly expand its commercial fire and security capabilities, reach, and customer base. ADT later divested its commercial business (into which Red Hawk had been integrated) to GTCR LLC in October 2023. Approximately $318 million total consideration (including ~$16 million of assumed finance/capital lease liabilities); ~$301 million cash paid, net of cash acquired.

Why it was attractive
  • Established commercial fire
  • life-safety and security customer base and capabilities that expanded ADT's reach beyond residential and small-business monitoring
On December 3, 2018, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Fire & Security Holdings, LLC ('Red Hawk Fire & Security'), a leader in commercial fire, life safety, and security services, for total consideration of approximately $318 million, which includes the assumption of capital lease obligations of $16 million, and cash paid of approximately $301 million, net of cash acquired.ADT Inc. FY2018 Form 10-K — Acquisitions note
03 Defenders (Defender Holdings, Inc.) · Indianapolis, Indiana / United States $290M
Closed Jan 2020 Combination
direct-to-consumer digital marketing and salessecurity-system sales and installationdealer network operations

Defender Holdings, Inc. ('Defenders') was ADT's largest independent authorized dealer prior to the acquisition. In January 2020 ADT acquired Defenders and its direct-to-consumer digital sales and installation operations, bringing its largest dealer's sales, marketing and installation capabilities in-house. Approximately $290 million total consideration (cash paid of ~$173 million net of cash acquired plus the issuance of ~16 million ADT shares valued at ~$114 million).

Why it was attractive
  • Largest independent ADT dealer with an established direct-to-consumer digital sales and installation engine
In January 2020, we acquired Defenders for total consideration of approximately $290 million, which consisted of cash paid of $173 million, net of cash acquired, and the issuance of approximately 16 million shares of our Common Stock with a fair value of $114 million. Defenders was our largest independent dealer prior to the Defenders Acquisition.ADT Inc. FY2021 Form 10-K — Acquisitions and Dispositions
04 Cell Bounce · United States Not disclosed
Closed Nov 2020 Private transaction
proprietary radio-conversion technologyuser-installable cellular-network conversion devices

Cell Bounce is a technology company with proprietary radio-conversion technology delivered as a user-installable device, intended to let ADT transition customers off 3G networks cost-efficiently as carriers sunset 3G service.

Why it was attractive
  • Proprietary self-installable radio-conversion technology addressing the mandatory 3G network sunset across ADT's customer base
During November 2020, we acquired Cell Bounce, a technology company with proprietary radio conversion technology in the form of a user-installable device, which is expected to allow for the transition of customers on 3G networks in a cost efficient and timely manner.ADT Inc. FY2020 Form 10-K
05 LifeShield, LLC · Langhorne, Pennsylvania / United States Not disclosed
Closed Jan 2019
DIY / self-installed home security systems and monitoring

LifeShield is a do-it-yourself, self-setup home security provider. ADT's FY2019 10-K ties the LifeShield acquisition to the start of 2019 (it began excluding DIY customers from certain attrition metrics 'as of January 1, 2019, in conjunction with the acquisition of LifeShield LLC'); LifeShield became a subsidiary guarantor under a supplemental indenture dated March 12, 2019.

Why it was attractive
  • Established DIY self-setup security product and customer base
As of January 1, 2019, in conjunction with the acquisition of LifeShield LLC, we began presenting gross customer revenue attrition excluding existing and new DIY customers.ADT Inc. FY2019 Form 10-K
06 DataShield, LLC · United States Not disclosed
Closed Nov 2017
cybersecurity services for mid-sized businessesthreat monitoring and detection

DataShield, LLC is a provider of cybersecurity services for mid-sized companies. ADT acquired it in 2017 to expand its suite of services beyond monitoring; DataShield became a subsidiary guarantor under supplemental indentures dated November 15, 2017.

Why it was attractive
  • Added cybersecurity capability and a business-customer service line
We recently acquired DataShield, LLC, a provider of cybersecurity services for mid-sized companies, which expands our suite of services.ADT Inc. FY2017 Form 10-K
07 Secure Designs, Inc. · Greensboro, North Carolina / United States Not disclosed
Disclosed in 8-K
managed cybersecurity services for small and mid-sized businesses

Secure Designs provides cybersecurity services for business customers. ADT's FY2018 10-K lists Secure Designs alongside DataShield as cybersecurity acquisitions that expanded ADT's suite of services; no acquisition value or specific date is disclosed in the filing.

Why it was attractive
  • Managed cybersecurity capability for business customers
We have acquired DataShield, LLC and Secure Designs, each of which provide cybersecurity services for business customers, which expands our suite of services.ADT Inc. FY2018 Form 10-K

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