Fairmount Partners has advised Kistler O’Brien Fire Protection on its sale to an industry-leading strategic acquirer. The transaction closed in October 2023. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Founded in Allentown, Pennsylvania, by George W. Kistler, Sr. more than 90 years ago, KOB grew from humble beginnings to become the recognized leader in fire protection service and quality across the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and Maryland markets. As the Company embarks on its next phase of growth, KOB’s established leadership team, in concert with new ownership, will continue to drive the expansion of the Company’s services offerings, financial and operational scale, and geographic footprint – all with the aim of serving its customers at an elevated level, with additional resources.
“We are thrilled to embark on the next phase of growth with our new partner,” said Eric Blasser, KOB’s President and Chief Executive Officer and 40+ year veteran of the business. “I joined the business in the 1980s as a technician, under the leadership and tutelage of George Kistler, Jr. The Kistler family, the KOB team, and customers of the Company are the very definition of an ‘extended family’ – that is why it was so important to the executive management team and me to find a strategic partner for the business that would continue to celebrate its people and customers and their collective commitment to the local and regional communities they serve.”
Jonathan Smith, Managing Director at Fairmount Partners, remarked “in an industry such as fire & life safety, which has been marked by rapid consolidation in recent years, KOB represented a highly attractive M&A opportunity. Eric, the Kistler family, and the Company’s executive management team have been wonderful stewards of a 90+year brand in the fire protection services market. For us, crafting a sell-side advisory process for the business that met the needs and wants of all Kistler constituents was our ultimate goal, and thanks to those same constituents, we well exceeded that goal! We couldn’t be happier for all of those involved.”
Fairmount Partners served as the exclusive financial advisor, the Gattuso Group served as the accounting advisor, and Baker Hostetler served as the legal counsel to KOB pursuant to this transaction.
About Fairmount Partners
Fairmount Partners (www.fairmountpartners.com) is an independent merger and acquisition advisory firm focused on middle-market companies. Fairmount helps its clients complete mergers and acquisitions, raise funds for growth, acquisitions, and liquidity, and design and improve their corporate development strategies. Fairmount’s clients include successful entrepreneurs, private equity-sponsored enterprises, and global public companies. Since 2003, Fairmount has completed more than 290 transactions, representing over $17 billion in aggregate value, in 23 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
