Riverside Hones in on Claim to Flame

The Riverside Company, a global private equity firm focused on the smaller end of the middle market, has invested in fire protection service provider Advance Fire & Safety (AFS) as an add-on to its fire and life safety platform, Performance Systems Integration (PSI). Based in Portland, Oregon, PSI is a leading provider of fire and life safety services in the Pacific Northwest. The company provides customers with fire and life safety services including system inspection, service and monitoring, equipment sales and cylinder repairs as well as installations for new construction and retrofits.

AFS provides customers in Washington State with a wide variety of fire protection services such as fire extinguisher sales, certification, recharging and maintenance.

“The addition of AFS is a key component to our aggressive add-on strategy for PSI,” said Riverside Managing Partner Loren Schlachet.  “The company is a strong fit due to its customer-first approach and will help bolster PSI’s footprint in the Washington market.”

“We are excited to partner with the AFS team, as we continue to expand PSI’s fire safety portfolio and geographic reach,” said PSI CEO Travis Everton. “We look forward to building on AFS’ strong foundation by offering employees development and career advancement, as well as providing expanded services and support to customers. We are proud to be a part of what the AFS team spent a lifetime building.”

PSI is committed to delivering customers a high quality of customer service through its “single-point-of-management” compliance services and solutions for fire protection and life safety needs. The company operates in partnership with Fire King, which specializes in fire extinguisher sales and service, cylinder requalification and maintenance and general fire protection services in Western Washington.

“As we saw when we first invested in PSI in 2019, the market for fire and life safety businesses continues to be attractive,” said Riverside Principal John McKernan. “AFS is a great addition to the PSI platform, and we will continue our search for fire protection companies with strong technicians, specializing in the inspection, repair and monitoring of fire and life safety equipment.”

Working with Schlachet and McKernan on the deal were Senior Associate Liz Burke, Analyst Aakeem Andrada, Operating Partner Ervin Cash and Finance Director Bart Thielen.