CDS has acquired a fire alarm systems company in the South East of England–the first of a number of businesses it is buying as part of its ‘buy and build’ strategy.
Middlesex-based Powerpoint Fire Systems (Powerpoint), a Honeywell Notifier engineered systems distributor, has supplied a number of high-profile organisations with complex multi-panel systems over the years, with the All-England Tennis Club, home of Wimbledon, perhaps its best-known customer.
In addition to helping protect some of world’s most famous tennis players, it has worked with many other household names including Prudential Insurance, Galliford Try, Land Securities and FPD Savills.
Powerpoint specialises in large multi-panel systems, with clients ranging from hospitals to shopping centres, with services from concept design to installation, development and maintenance of systems.
The acquisition means CDS not only gains a foothold in the South East, but will also, through Powerpoint, be able to specify, install and maintain Honeywell Notifier systems. The acquisition complements CDS, a Honeywell Gent Elite Technology Centre and one of the longest serving Gent System Integrators, having been appointed in 2000.
Powerpoint’s co-founder and current Managing Director, Jan Poliszewski will continue to support CDS following the acquisition, offering his many years of expertise both with the Notifier system and his home counties client base.
CDS chairman Simon Cashmore said: “We aim to grow CDS in three ways – by broadening our geographical coverage, adding service capability and expanding our services in the compliance sector. The acquisition of Powerpoint allows us to both further broaden our geographic reach into the South East and enhance the group’s technical capability. Jan brings vast expertise in this very complex sector and an intimate knowledge of the fire safety requirements of some of the largest organisations in the region.”
Jan Poliszewski added: “I am delighted that Powerpoint is becoming part of the expanding CDS stable. Simon Cashmore and Simon Abley have an excellent track record in growing companies and I’m excited to be able to play a part in developing Powerpoint and building scale for CDS across the South East region.”
Simon Cashmore and Simon Abley, who acquired CDS in the summer of 2020, were the team behind outdoor services specialist TCL Group, growing the business 14-fold over 12 years before selling it in 2019. Its expansion was achieved through strategic acquisition of complementary companies with the aim of broadening both its geographical reach and service offerings. It was named one of the 1,000 Companies to Inspire Europe in 2017 by the London Stock Exchange.
Photo: “File:Centre Court Wimbledon 1.jpg” by Spiralz from England is licensed under CC BY 2.0
