New Path Fire and Security completes trio of acquisition deals

Headquartered in Southampton, New Path Fire and Security is a family of regional fire safety and security companies. The group covers all aspects of fire safety, including the installation, maintenance and servicing of fire alarms, extinguishers and emergency lighting, in addition to security solutions encompassing CCTV, access control, intruder alarms and door entry systems.

Under the leadership of CEO Andrew Hill, New Path Fire and Security is bringing together like-minded small businesses looking to benefit from being part of a wider group, while also remaining independent in their operations. With a focus on compliance businesses, Hill is spearheading a buy-and-build growth strategy and, as part of that, actively seeking acquisition opportunities in London, the Home Counties, East Anglia and along the South Coast.

This trio of acquisitions, which was also supported by Sara Mullen and Isabelle Balch from Moore Barlow LLP, brings the total number of deals on which the latter has supported New Path Fire and Security to seven in the last 12 months. The news follows on from the complementary acquisition of Advance Security and that of Armour Security and Fire Safety Solutions. Both of the latter transactions occurred in 2021.

Andrew Hill informed Fire Safety Matters: “It has been an exciting and positive year for New Path Fire and Security. We’re delighted to welcome three new reputable businesses to our group. As a fast-moving growth business, we rely on the support of our professional advisors throughout. Kirsty and the team at Moore Barlow LLP have been outstanding and we look forward to keeping them even busier in 2022.”

Buy-and-build strategy

Commenting on the transactions, Kirsty Bowyer added: “Andrew is a long-standing client and it’s fantastic to be able to support him and his team on this latest set of acquisitions. A buy-and-build growth strategy is a strong way in which to fashion resilience within a business and, as we continue to navigate our way out of the Coronavirus pandemic, it’s a growth strategy many small and medium-sized businesses are now adopting.”

Bowyer continued: “At New Path Fire and Security, Andrew is building a group that’s bigger than the sum of its parts. Each company in the group can benefit from central resources, such as marketing and Human Resources, and access to finance, while also continuing to operate like an independent. This creates a real opportunity for those business owners who may be looking to take a step back or kick-start succession plans, knowing full well that the day-to-day operations remain in safe hands. I would expect this model to continue as a popular route towards growth as we head further into 2022.”

The 22-strong corporate team at Moore Barlow LLP is one of the largest in the South of England. With offices in Guildford, Southampton, Lymington, Working, Richmond and London, the team supports clients in London and along the M3 corridor, as well as around the South Coast.