EU Fire & Security sells business

EU Fire & Security

EU Fire & Security, the UK’s largest independent fire alarm distributor, has been sold for an undisclosed sum to Newbury Investments, a privately-owned trade buyer.

Martin Crossley and Mark Walsh launched the Rochdale-based business 15 years ago and have established it as a market-leading company with annual revenues of more than £12m and a team of 25 staff nationwide.

Alongside fire alarms, EU Fire & Security also distributes a wide range of life safety and security products. It offers an integrated service to customers which includes fire alarm design, supply and commissioning.

Based in Berkshire, Newbury Investments is a highly acquisitive, diverse holding company with annual revenues of more than £500m. It owns a range of businesses in the facilities management and mechanical and engineering products sector. EU Fire & Security will become part of Newbury Investments’ subsidiary Norbain Holdings, a UK distributor of CCTV, access control and intruder detection solutions.

This acquisition will boost Norbain Holdings’ geographic presence as a leading distributor of commercial safety products and it also presents compelling opportunities to cross sell between both organisations’ customers. 

Mr Crossley and Mr Walsh said: “We felt that now was the right time for us to find a strategic acquirer for our business to allow it to fulfil its potential and move to the next phase in its development.”

“We are sure that in Newbury Investments, we have found a great home for EU Fire & Security and we would like to thank the Grant Thornton Corporate Finance team for its hard work and strategic advice, leading to this very positive outcome.”

Peter Terry, head of Grant Thornton’s North West Corporate Finance Advisory team, who was assisted by Daniel Brecker and Jacob Leone, added: “It has been a pleasure to work with the founders of EU Fire & Security to achieve the result their hard work deserves.

“We are seeing significant activity levels in the building services sector, from both trade acquirers and from private equity firms, which reflects both the importance of fire safety and the highly fragmented market place.”

Hill Dickinson, led by partner Ian Riggs and supported by Sean Lightfoot, provided legal advice to the shareholders of EU Fire & Security.