Vanderbilt Acquisition of Siemens’ Security Products Group
General FAQs
Vanderbilt Industries (VI) is a global leader in creating state-of-the-art security systems.
Vanderbilt’s innovative approach to access control technology, from design and
manufacturing, through to distribution, makes organization’s environments safe, secure
and easy to maintain. Vanderbilt’s products range from single-user systems so simple
that they can be installed in one day, to highly customized applications that fit the
unique requirements of leading multinational corporations. The Vanderbilt product line
includes the bright blue®, lite blue™, and SMS Enterprise Access Control/Video
Solutions.
Following the acquisition of Siemens’ Security Products Group (SP) by Vanderbilt
Industries, the new operational and corporate headquarters will be set up in Germany
with the new name of Vanderbilt International GmbH. Joe Grillo, 25+ year industry
veteran of roughly 15 European acquisitions during his time at HID and ASSA ABLOY,
will serve as Managing Director. Joe will be based at the new Vanderbilt headquarters,
which will be located in the Frankfurt area. VI will have approximately 240 employees in
total, primarily located in and managed as follows; Sweden (Access Control Product
line), Ireland (Intrusion Product line) and Germany (Video Product line, Technical
Support and Supply Chain Management). Sales hubs will be operated in these countries
as well as in the UK, France, Spain and Italy.
What is actually being acquired by Vanderbilt from Siemens?
In the 1990’s and early 2000’s Siemens acquired a number of businesses offering
CCTV, Access Control and Intrusion detection systems, including Bewator, Cotag,
Molynx, Alarmcom and Europlex. These became known as Security Products business
of Siemens. They are a designer, manufacturer and distributor of independent and
integrated security products in these three product categories. It is the business that
evolved from these acquisitions that Vanderbilt Industries is buying from Siemens.
Will SP products be sold in the US and will Vanderbilt products be offered in
Europe, or will the two companies operate as they do now, but under one
management?
Initially, VI and VI GmbH will continue to operate as they do today offering their existing
products to their current channel partners. Over time, and after an extensive review of
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the product platforms and underlying technology, we will analyze the opportunities to
cross sell products. There may also be consolidation of some product lines where there
is excessive overlap.
What is changing?
Because the acquisition will not include the Siemens brand name, Vanderbilt
International GmbH will become the new company name and brand that will continue to
be developed from its inception in 2012 with the purchase of the access control and
video management business from Ingersoll Rand. Decisions about specific product
brand names have not been made but may include bringing back some of the longestablished names of the product companies Siemens previously acquired.
The other change is Vanderbilt’s sole focus on the business of offering integrated
security systems incorporating Access Control, Intrusion Alarm and Video Monitoring
systems. Siemens BT division, which had been looking to divest the SP business for
several years, is more focused on its core strategy of providing integrated building
automation and critical monitoring systems for large infrastructure projects as a
vertically integrated solutions and service company. They will remain an important
customer of VI using its products where applicable.
Will all current Siemens branded products remain branded as Siemens? Are any
brands or products going to be transitioned out?
VI GmbH will have the use of the Siemens brand(s) for a limited period of time. The
exception is that we will private label products for the Siemens BT business as SP did in
the past.
How does this change benefit current Siemens Security Products and Vanderbilt
customers?
For Siemens Security Products customers, they will continue to work with the same
sales and internal support personnel. They will continue to enjoy the same pricing
discounts and other terms and conditions that exist today.
Customers for the combined business will have increased R&D and support resources.
This will help provide our channel partners with new products and programs that are
designed to meet their specific needs as OEMs, resellers, installers, systems
integrators, and distributors. This includes moving to open platforms, especially in the
Electronic Access Controls (EAC) product segment. An additional benefit will be the
elimination of any perceived channel conflict associated with the fact that Siemens
owned an integration business that competed with SP’s other integration partners.
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What does this change mean to Vanderbilt Industries’ and Siemens’ customers in
the short term?
As significant as this acquisition is, the overall result for our customers is really quite
simple: the same great people will continue to offer the same great products. There will
be no interruptions to our world-class service and no interruptions to the flow of products
from both SP and Vanderbilt Industries.
What does this change mean to Siemens’ customers in the longer term?
Customers can expect to see an increase in converged and vertical market solutions for
secure identity related applications. They will benefit from our worldwide delivery
capabilities, global channel management, and partnership with a trusted supplier
focused on total customer value.
How will this affect the product lines I am currently purchasing from Siemens?
All products will continue to be offered by Vanderbilt International GmbH to the markets
where they are currently available. Product lines will also continue to evolve through
technology innovations and in response to market demand.
What happens to the Siemens business segment approach to the market?
SP had the benefit of long standing customer relationships across the various channels
of distribution. Our commitment to these customers will continue on the same level as
before.
One of the most important business partners and customers will be the integration
business of Siemens Building Technologies division, which represents a substantial
piece of the revenue generated by SP and will continue to be so with VI GmbH.
Where should I place my orders for Siemens products?
Siemens customers should continue to place orders as they do so today.
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Are my contracts, agreements, and/or non-disclosure agreements with Siemens
still valid?
Yes. In the future, signed agreements with Siemens and/or Siemens companies will be
assigned to Vanderbilt International GmbH. All terms and conditions and pricing will
remain the same.
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