It was just shy of a year ago that we were mentioning how security heavy hitters Academi (the company formerly known as Blackwater and Xe) had joined Triple Canopy to form Constellis Group. Yesterday, Constellis and Olive Group released a statememt that they would be combining. From the outside, it seems as though the dust still hasn’t completely settled on the Constellis Group formation so we are quite interested to see how further consolidation within the most prominent members of the High Threat Security Industry will proceed.  The merger may possibly be a move to create a business entity with enough value to attract major investors. 

There were layoffs associated with the previous merger. More are likely, although according to the press release, the Olive Group leadership are already assured membership on the Constellis Group board. You can read the full release below.

RESTON, Va. and DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, May 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Constellis Group and Olive Group jointly announced today that the two parties have agreed to merge Olive Group into the existing Constellis Group of Companies. Olive Group will drive the entity’s global focus on commercial sectors, and this merger establishes the combined resources and funding to deliver ambitious plans for commercial expansion, to which both parties are committed. The merged entity will leverage Olive Group’s market leading position and reputation for new growth.

Olive Group is a leading provider of innovative risk management solutions, which include security, program management, life support and technology solutions, to blue chip commercial customers operating primarily in the energy, aviation, and infrastructure sectors. Headquartered in the Middle East with principal offices in the United Arab Emirates, U.K., and U.S., Olive Group has more than 5,000 staff operating in 20 countries on five continents. Olive Group will continue to operate its distinct and highly respected brand, driven by its reputation of delivering operational excellence in conformity with the strictest compliance standards in the industry. Olive Group’s management team will remain unchanged and is committed to driving the growth of the combined Group with the scale and support afforded through this new partnership with Constellis Group’s global operations.

Chris and David St. George, co-founders of Olive Group, will join Constellis Group’s Board of Directors, adding immeasurable value, insight, and relationships in the commercial markets they and Olive Group’s leadership team helped establish over the past decade. Olive Group’s founding shareholders have chosen to maintain a significant ownership position in the combined entity.

“We are excited to welcome Olive Group into the Constellis family,” said Craig Nixon, CEO of Constellis Group. “The leadership, experience, and capabilities of our combined operations establish us as a full-service risk management, integrated security, and managed services provider with a global presence.”

Olive Chairman Chris St. George said, “Olive Group’s clients face increasingly complex challenges in managing a myriad of risks including the safety of personnel, integrity of investments, regulatory compliance and the protection of corporate reputation. As a result, Olive Group needs to offer more services, and this merger establishes a unique position for the company to meet these global operational demands.”

Martin Rudd, Olive Group’s Managing Director, who will continue to lead Olive Group, added, “Triple Canopy and Olive Group share deserved reputations for operational excellence and governance across government and commercial clients. Not only will this combination allow each company to benefit from the other’s considerable experience, but it will provide us both with a broad and resilient platform for growth. We are tremendously excited about the opportunities which lie ahead for the combined Group.”

The transaction brings together a global team of industry leaders serving a broad list of customers that include governments, NGOs, and a diverse mix of commercial entities. The transaction furthers Constellis Group’s participation in the commercial sector and provides global expansion into established and emerging markets across several continents. Operating under the oversight of a distinguished Board and an experienced management team, the combination of these companies will enable a significant expansion of services within the global stabilization market, delivering complex program management, mission support, integrated security solutions, training, and advisory services throughout the world.