Certares extends Guardian Alarm bet with new continuation fund
What's the deal? CertaresDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has closed a single-asset continuation fund to extend its partnership with Guardian AlarmDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a Southfield, Michigan-based provider of security, fire, access control, and automation solutions. A new investor group led by funds managed by New 2ND CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → backed the deal, which the firms announced on September 22, 2026. The fund's size was not disclosed.
Why now? The continuation fund gives Guardian's existing shareholders an option to take liquidity while committing fresh capital to the business. That money is earmarked for Guardian's acquisition strategy and continued growth.
What's the endgame? Founded in 1930, Guardian is one of the country's largest vertically integrated security providers, serving commercial and residential customers across more than 10 states in the Midwest and South. It offers design, installation, 24/7 in-house monitoring, service, and maintenance.
"The additional capital provided through this transaction will allow us to continue investing in the business and accelerate our acquisition strategy as we expand Guardian's presence in existing and new markets," said Brent Uhl, chief executive officer of Guardian.
Who's involved? New 2ND Capital is a New York-based private equity firm specialising in GP-led secondaries transactions for North American middle-market companies. It is currently investing its fourth fund and had $2.6 billion in regulatory assets under management as of December 31, 2025.
"Guardian represents exactly the type of high-quality business we seek to support through our secondary investments," said Rob Luttrell, partner at New 2ND. He cited the company's "established market position, a compelling recurring revenue model, and a demonstrated track record of growth."
The signal: Single-asset continuation funds are an increasingly common way for private equity firms to hold on to strong-performing companies while returning cash to earlier investors. For Certares — an alternative asset manager with roughly $6.4 billion under management, focused on travel, hospitality, and business and consumer services — the deal keeps a growth platform in hand rather than selling to a rival.
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