The O'Gara Group

The business plan isn't "bulletproof," but some of the products are. Operating through three divisions, The O'Gara Group provides security, safety, and defense products and services to clients in the commercial, government, and military sectors. The company's Sensor Systems division designs and manufactures night vision equipment and tracking, tagging, and locating systems. Its Advanced Transparent & Mobile Systems division distributes armored vehicles including cars, trucks, and SUVs. The Training & Services division provides threat assessment, tactical training, and preparedness and response training services. O'Gara provides its services globally throughout North America and Europe.

Though the company's two largest customers are the US Marine Corps and Mercedes Benz, it also counts other US military services, the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM), the US Department of State, as well as the UK and Italian ministries of defense among its customers. Although the lion's share of revenue is dependent on commercial customers (more than 60%), sales to various governments represent more than 35% of revenues. International clientele also comprise a large portion of sales at more than 75%.

O'Gara filed for an IPO in mid-2008 to gain proceeds to complete three acquisitions. Due to market conditions, however, the company withdrew the offering in mid-2010. The planned acquisitions included three security-related companies: Italy-based Isoclima (armor manufacturing), Mexico-based TPS Armoring (vehicle armoring systems), and OmniTech (sensor design and night vision goggles). The purchases of Isoclima and TPS Armoring are still pending, but OmniTech was picked up by another company in the interim. 

Formed in 2003, the company has grown quickly through acquisitions. In the 1980s the company made armored cars for US presidents, but over the years, it has become a more diversified security firm.