Riverside Continues to Feed the Flame with Latest Investment

The Riverside Company, a global private equity firm focused on the smaller end of the middle market, has invested in Advanced Fire Company, Approved Fire Protection and Advanced Fire & Security to form Advanced Fire (Advanced), a provider of fire and life safety system inspection, monitoring, repair and maintenance and installation services. The investment is an add-on to Riverside’s CertaSite platform, a fire and life safety platform that is committed to the highest levels of customer service, responsiveness, building safety and code compliance.

“Adding Advanced under the CertaSite umbrella is a natural fit for the long-term growth plan we have for this platform and continues expansion into western Pennsylvania,” said Riverside Managing Partner Loren Schlachet. “During our partnership, we plan to invest in sales and marketing resources to enhance the organizations’ already-extensive customer base and increase technician utilization through the use of technology and training.” 

CertaSite is another example of Riverside’s commitment to investing in the business services industry. To date, the firm has completed more than 250 investments in this area and has a team of global experts dedicated to growing companies in this specialization.

“We’re excited to continue our work with the CertaSite team,” said Riverside Principal John McKernan. “Our team worked closely and creatively to complete this deal despite the temporary impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We continue to look for additional add-ons for full-service fire protection companies, specializing in the inspection, monitoring, repair and maintenance and design of fire and life safety equipment including extinguishers, sprinklers, alarm systems, suppression systems and other fire and life safety systems.”

To date, CertaSite has now invested in nine fire protection and life safety companies and is actively engaged in bringing new businesses under the CertaSite umbrella. The CertaSite family includes: ABC Fire Extinguisher Co. (Ohio); Approved Protection Systems (Michigan); Approved Safety and Security (Indiana); Company One Suppression (Illinois and Iowa); County Fire Protection (Ohio); Erlich Fire Protection (Michigan); Field’s Fire Protection (Michigan); and Spears Fire & Safety (Michigan).

Working with Schlachet and McKernan on the deal were Assistant Vice President Kenneth Johnson, Finance Director Bart Thielen and Operating Partner Ervin Cash. Regional Director of Origination Cheryl Strom sourced the deal for Riverside.