News Release

DALLAS, TX – Safeguard Business Systems, the provider of products, services and expertise designed to help businesses across North America grow, is proud to announce the sale of Anaheim-based business The Patrick Group to new distributor Sergio Gastelum.

Gastelum has been a part of the Safeguard network for more than 20 years, starting in a part-time role working under former distributor Patrick Neimic of The Patrick Group. He transitioned through a variety of positions before landing the title of office manager. When Neimic passed away, Gastelum decided to step in and purchase the business, renaming it The Gastelum Group.

“I wanted to continue Patrick’s legacy,” said Gastelum. “He taught me so much about the business and is the reason I’m so passionate about the industry today. I also knew this would be the smoothest transition for customers because I’ve built a relationship with so many of them over the years. I’m excited to take on this new role thanks to Patrick’s guidance.”

“While Neimic’s mentorship played a major role in Gastelum’s future with Safeguard, it was also his own ability to move up the ranks that helped set him up for success as an owner. Gastelum began his career with The Patrick Group as a file clerk, learning about the products and services that Safeguard offers. From there, he transitioned into a customer service position, which taught him more about the importance of Safeguard’s personalized approach to its services. In his latest role as office manager, Gastelum learned about the backend operations and overall sales goals, grooming him to ultimately run the business.”

“I had low-level experience and worked my way up, which offered me unique exposure to all areas of the business,” said Gastelum. “This exposure was incredibly critical in helping me understand what goes into our operations on a daily basis. My top priority has been ensuring that my customers felt supported throughout this transition, and we’ve been able to maintain the relationship with all of them as a result.”

The acquisition was completed through Safeguard’s Business Acquisitions & Mergers (BAM) Team. With more than 100 years of collective experience in franchising, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, the BAM Team has completed more than 175 strategic transactions since 2008. For its work in helping drive company and distributor growth through the completion of strategic transactions, the BAM team was honored with a Stevie™ Award for “Best Support Team” of 2017 and by the M&A Advisors as the “Strategic Corporation of the Year” in 2018. In 2014 and 2018, the Safeguard BAM team was also recognized as a “Dealmaker of the Year” award winner by Franchise Times™ magazine.

“Sergio has played an integral role in the growth and success of the Anaheim-based distributorship for many years and is a perfect example of what can happen when someone believes in Safeguard’s proven business model and is truly dedicated to both their employees and customers,” said R. Scott Sutton, Vice President at Safeguard. “We’re eager to see what growth can take shape under his leadership moving forward.”

ABOUT SAFEGUARD
For more than 60 years, Safeguard, through its network of distributors, has been providing the products, services and expertise needed by business owners to help their businesses grow. Through innovation, dedication and a commitment to quality and integrity, Safeguard has transformed itself from a small check printing business to a fully diversified business solutions enterprise. To learn more about Safeguard, please visit www.safeguardbam.com, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/safeguardgrowth.

ABOUT SAFEGUARD BAM
Since 2008, Safeguard’s award-winning Business Acquisitions and Mergers (BAM) Team has emerged as the most decorated strategic growth team in the industry. With more than 100 years of collective experience in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, business strategy and financial performance assessment, the BAM Team possesses the “know how” needed by Safeguard, its affiliates, distributors and franchisees to complete complex transactions across multiple business channels. The BAM team has completed more than 150 total transactions since its inception, earning accolades at the highest levels. In 2018, the BAM team won a second coveted Dealmaker of the Year award, presented by Franchise Times® Magazine, after first winning the award in 2014.In 2017, the BAM team won an M&A Advisors Deal of the Year award in the Professional Services (B-to-B) category as well as a bronze Stevie® American Business Award as Support Team of the Year. In 2018 Safeguard won another M&A Advisors award as Strategic Corporation of the Year for its mergers and acquisition work. To learn more about the BAM Team, please visit safeguardbam.com, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/safeguardgrowth.