Leading UK fire detection supplier joins forces with suppression specialists

Transaction

Sale of DAS Fire to Alpine Fire

Sell-side

Undisclosed

Role

Adviser to DAS Fire on its sale to WestBridge-backed Alpine Fire

Sector

Business Services

Region

We have advised DAS Fire Ltd (DAS Fire), a business that designs, supplies, installs and maintains fire suppression and detection systems for the data centre market, on its sale to WestBridge-backed Alpine Fire (Alpine), the market-leading specialist in design, project management and maintenance of active fire suppression systems for complex industries.

Early on in the process, our team undertook detailed preparatory workstreams to ensure the business was ready for sale, whilst simultaneously leveraging our sector knowledge to identify Alpine as a highly strategic buyer that would meet the shareholders’ objectives. From the first meeting, the alignment of cultures and values was clear, as was the strategic fit between the businesses.

Founded in 2013 by Stuart Parker and joined by Paul Darke in 2016, DAS Fire is a market leader in supplying fire detection and suppression solutions to the data centre market across the UK and Ireland. It offers a full-service design, installation, maintenance and support, offering bespoke to the data centre market. As part of the acquisition, Paul and Stuart will remain with the business alongside the entirety of their team.

The acquisition follows a WestBridge-backed secondary buyout of Greater Manchester-based Alpine Fire by its management team in 2022, a deal also advised by the Clearwater Industrials Team. Having identified data centres as a key target market for growth, the company’s first acquisition since the investment by WestBridge adds additional technical expertise alongside an expansion into a new complex market.

hazard fire suppression system gas extinguishing

Working with DAS Fire, a founder-led business with a remarkable track record, has been a privilege. Our goal was to secure Paul, Stuart and their team the ideal home to continue their growth journey, and we are confident that by partnering with Alpine Fire, DAS Fire will thrive in the next phase. Since we sold Alpine to WestBridge in 2022 the business has performed strongly and the partnership with DAS Fire provides entry into the data centre market which will further accelerate this growth. We wish the team every success.
Rob Burden, Partner and Head of Business Services, Clearwater

Clearwater truly understood our vision for the future of DAS Fire. Their tailored approach helped us navigate this complex process and secure a partner that aligns perfectly with our ambitions. We couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome and the support we received from the entire team.
Stuart Parker and Paul Darke, Managing Directors, DAS Fire

It’s an exciting time to join the progressive team at Alpine and combine the extensive experience of both of our organisations to offer expertly designed fire detection and suppression systems to our customers in the complex sectors we specialise in. We will continue to focus on both our customers and colleagues whilst looking forward to the benefits that come with being part of a larger organisation.
Stuart Parker

Since our secondary management buyout in December 2022, we have continued to be extremely successful in driving organic growth across our core markets. This acquisition enables us to accelerate our diversification strategy into sectors that complement our areas of expertise. I am incredibly excited to have DAS join the team, we have added further expertise and capability in a unique sector which we identified as a key growth area, whilst also providing us with a fantastic opportunity to offer our customers an improved and more comprehensive solution.
Steven Nanda, Chief Executive Officer, Alpine Fire

We have developed a great partnership with the team at Alpine since investment. The acquisition of DAS Fire supplements Alpine’s existing offering and opens up a new sector of the market. It goes without saying, we are pleased and excited about bringing DAS Fire into the Alpine Group and we look forward to supporting Alpine as it pursues further strategic growth.
Thomas Dutton, Senior Investment Manager at WestBridge