There are U.S.-based companies run by former American or Israeli intelligence officers. There are European companies that sometimes hire mercenaries. The cost and inconvenience of hiring a firm located overseas prompted a Canadian pipeline with projects in South America to contract a local firm. After interviewing several companies, the pipeline firm chose Calgary' s Protection Concepts Corporation. ProCon is run by former Canadian police and intelligence officers, who provide a range of security services.
Staff spend time in the country involved to look at the security situation.
They develop contacts with local intelligence officers and contract overseas agents who arrange for bodyguards, escorts and armored cars. ProCon also helps companies develop crisis management plans. The process involves selecting a group of senior managers who can come together in a crisis and guiding them through scenarios such as kidnapping, extortion and civil strife. ProCon also has a 24-hour emergency assistance call centre. In an emergency, ProCon's response team gives immediate advice, notifies company personnel and family members and monitors the situation.