IDSS buys London fire detection firm

MANCHESTER-based ID Support Services has bought London-based fire detection business BDS Fire & Security Limited for an undisclosed sum.

BDS, which designs, installs and maintains fire detection systems, employs 45 staff at its Croydon base.

IDSS said that the deal would take its total staff numbers to around 260 and its group turnover to more than £40 million. It said that following the merger, it would integrate BDS and its own security business ID Technology Group to create a new £20m company called ID Fire & Security.

“We are delighted with the BDS acquisition, which enhances the group’s offering in the fire detection market,” said IDSS chief executive David Metcalfe.

“The focus of BDS on technical excellence and high quality service delivery is of critical importance to us and is demonstrated by its superb customer base.”
Middleton-based IDSS has been through a number of buyouts in recent years – the most recent of which in July 2008 saw Glasgow-based private equity firm Penta Capital take a majority stake in a deal that valued the business at £25m.

The firm’s first set of accounts under its new owners showed a pre-tax loss of £1.95m on increased sales of £29.7m for the year to June 30, 2009.

Chairman Brian Dunn, who set up the business in 1997, said the BDS acquisition was “another significant development for IDSS as it builds towards its long term vision to be a market leading independent provider of support services and a £100m turnover group.”