Ranger Fire and Security kick starts European expansion funding
The acquisition is Ranger’s first deal outside the UK, whilst simultaneously broadening out the Group’s proposition. Ranger has strong ambitions to continue growing through Ireland, drawing on CEO Mark Bridges’ background in scaling European businesses.
The acquisition of KSS aligns with Ranger’s wider acquisition strategy in Continental Europe, further highlighting its aim to become a key player in the European fire safety market.
Hyperion focuses on executing buy-and-build strategies in highly fragmented industries that demonstrate high recurring revenues with experienced management teams. Ranger was launched earlier this year by Hyperion in response to highly skilled but fragmented nature of the market to create an industry leader with a focus on maintenance and servicing across the UK and Europe.
Since its launch, Ranger has acquired six businesses across the UK, and now Ireland, as part of its mission to create a one-stop solution for fire and security needs, while enabling Group businesses to collaborate, cross-sell and scale. With the acquisition of KSS, Ranger is targeting further growth and continued success in Europe, with an intention to expand into other markets, such as the Nordics, France and Germany.
Based in Dublin, KSS operates nationally and has been serving the Irish market for more than a decade by maintaining life-critical fire suppression systems. With KSS becoming Ranger’s operational hub in Ireland, Founder Jeff Doyle will become Regional Chairman and Director Rob Davis joining as Ireland Managing Director at Ranger.
Both Jeff and Rob will be instrumental to Ranger’s strategy by identifying and partnering with like-minded fire and security businesses that have exceptional service quality delivered by full-time engineer model and a focus on maintenance revenues.
Hyperion is providing the funding capacity to make acquisitions and invest in the Group’s infrastructure as part of its mission to provide a single platform for the fire and security needs of businesses in Europe.
This is a milestone acquisition for Ranger with the first step into Europe. KSS will provide the infrastructure to further Ranger’s buy-and-build strategy in Ireland with a number of acquisition opportunities already underway. The KSS process was highly competitive, and we are extremely pleased to have Jeff and Rob on board to become the leads for Ranger in Ireland. They are very well-known in Ireland and their ambitions to continue KSS’ growth made the two of them great additions to the Ranger team.Dylan Smith, Vice President, Hyperion Equity Partners
Appointed by Hyperion, Ranger’s leadership team is composed of leading service industry executives and fire and security sector experts, including CEO, Mark Bridges, the former CEO of Pimlico Plumbers and Domestic and General’s International CEO, and Managing Director, Ian Teader, a former national committee member of FSA and experienced operator within the fire and security industry.
Mark Bridges, CEO of Ranger Fire and Security, said: “KSS Fire Suppression is a respected business in the fire suppression space that adds a wealth of industry expertise, a strong customer base, and a proven track record of success to the Ranger Group.
“With Jeff and Rob staying on to lead the business, we’re confident that together we can drive significant growth across Ireland through organic and inorganic means. This acquisition marks an important milestone for Ranger as we continue to expand and deliver high-quality fire safety solutions across new regions."
The announcement builds on Ranger Fire and Security’s previous acquisitions of AFIL, Ignis Fire Protection Ltd, Syncro Group Ltd, IPH Fire Solutions Ltd, and Fire Door Specialists Ltd, which together have helped Ranger to enhance its offering in all key areas of fire and security services.
