Leith Mergers & Acquisitions Limited – Completion Announcement – Churches Fire & Security acquires Detect Fire & Security Limited
Leith Mergers & Acquisitions Limited (Leith M&A) (https://leithma.co.uk/) is delighted to announce the acquisition of Detect Fire & Security Limited (Detect Fire & Security) (https://www.detectfs.co.uk/) by Churches Fire Security Ltd (Churches Fire & Security) (https://www.churchesfire.com/).
Churches Fire & Security are a nationwide specialist dedicated to supplying customers with the best in fire safety and security provisions.
Established in 2003 and based in Hamble, Hampshire, Detect Fire & Security specialise in fire protection and security services. Exact details of the transaction value will remain undisclosed, but we are able to confirm that the deal was a 100% share sale. The acquisition completed on 1st March 2021.
Churches Fire & Security and Detect Fire & Security offer well-aligned services with a large concentration of regional customers and together, are extremely proud to be able to offer an enhanced national service as a result of the acquisition. This further supports Churches Fire & Security’s strategy of becoming the most comprehensive fire safety and security provider in the UK.
Andrew Derrick & Chris Ellis, Co-founders of Detect Fire & Security commented,
“We are pleased to confirm the sale of Detect Fire & Security to Churches Fire & Security. We are certain that Churches will continue to provide our customers with the same level of exceptional service that we have taken great pride in delivering. Looking after our staff and customers was our main priority throughout this process, and we are confident that Churches share this outlook.”
Charlie Haynes, Chief Executive Officer at Churches Fire & Security commented,
“Following the acquisition of Detect Fire & Security, I am delighted to welcome our new colleagues, customers and suppliers to Churches Fire & Security. This is the 32nd acquisition Churches Fire & Security has made and as we integrate the acquisitions, we are always pleased not only to grow our business but take the best from both businesses. This helps ensure we continue to develop and grow our offering, as we continue to work with our customers to keep their property and staff safe from fire and theft.”
Leith M&A acted as exclusive advisors to the shareholders of Detect Fire & Security. The relationship between the companies pre-dated this recent transaction by some years. Leith M&A had previously advised Detect Fire & Security on its own acquisition strategy before acting for the shareholders of a company that was acquired by Detect Fire & Security.
David Nelson, Managing Director at Leith M&A added,
“I have very much enjoyed building an exceptionally close relationship with Chris and Andrew over many years, we’ve certainly been on a unique journey together. Leith M&A first acted as their acquisition advisor, then on “the other side of fence” as we represented the shareholders of a company they acquired and finally supported them in their own exit. It has been a wonderful experience to work with them and experience the M&A process from all angles with the same client.
We are particularly proud of our role in the final stage of their journey, and we are delighted to have secured an excellent deal for Andrew & Chris. They built a fantastic business in Detect Fire & Security and a lasting legacy that they should be very proud of.
I would also add that it has been a pleasure to work opposite the team at Churches Fire & Security once again, our second sale to Churches Fire & Security in just seven months. Their approach has been professional and transparent from our initial meeting through to completion and this helped to facilitate a smooth transaction.
Andrew Derrick commented on the service provided by the team at Leith M&A:
“We appointed Leith M&A to research and then approach competitors enticing them with our potential for acquisition. David Nelson was attentive to necessary details and appropriate questions ensuring focus on valid targets. After our campaign had concluded a business that David had approached on our behalf indicated their appetite to sell and appointed David as their agent. David assisted us with the diligence process, the legal framework, and the sale/purchase agreement too. David remained attentive to every aspect of the transaction, which was our first acquisition. Always acting fairly and taking a balanced approach to the inevitable challenges that naturally arise during the process.
Some years later, when we determined to sell our own business, David at Leith M&A was an obvious choice and very quickly connected us to potential buyers, but with one in mind especially. Again, David was meticulous with detail and took upon himself much of the load through the diligence and disclosure process. Never tiring with his support and often beyond conventional work hours David’s focus and devotion acting on our behalf was peerless. As we tired of the process and became less excited David was excellent in retaining our focus and always steered a steady ship towards the day we sold.
I believe that David secured us the very best deal, provided immeasurable support and encouragement, for which we remain deeply grateful and recognise that we couldn’t have done this without David and his excellent team at Leith M&A.”
