Guardian Fire expands Midwest reach with Nebraska deal

Guardian Fire Services has acquired Nebraska-based Midwest Protection Services, extending the Investcorp-backed fire and life safety platform into the Omaha market as consolidation accelerates across the US safety-services industry.

Financial terms were not disclosed. The transaction is Guardian’s second acquisition since Investcorp bought the Nashville-headquartered company from Northern Lakes Capital in December 2025, highlighting an early push to expand the platform through regional purchases.

Midwest Protection Services provides fire and life safety systems and related services to commercial customers in and around Omaha. The acquisition gives Guardian an established local operation in Nebraska and strengthens its ability to serve businesses across the Midwest with inspection, maintenance, repair and installation support.

Guardian said Midwest Protection Services would broaden its regional capabilities and add experienced technicians and customer relationships. The transaction is also expected to give Midwest’s clients access to Guardian’s wider operational resources, service network and range of safety solutions.

The deal reflects Investcorp’s strategy of using Guardian as a national consolidation platform in a market that remains fragmented among hundreds of regional and locally owned operators. Fire and life safety businesses have attracted growing investor interest because much of their income comes from recurring inspections, testing, monitoring and maintenance required under building and fire codes.

Guardian provides services covering fire suppression systems, alarms, extinguishers, emergency lighting and related life safety equipment. Its customers include commercial buildings, industrial facilities, healthcare providers and educational institutions across several US regions.

Investcorp acquired Guardian as its first North American investment in the fire and life safety sector. Guardian had completed 12 acquisitions from 2022 before the ownership change, giving the company an established process for integrating smaller operators while retaining local technical expertise and customer relationships.

The purchase of Midwest Protection Services indicates that the acquisition-led strategy is continuing under Investcorp. Omaha offers access to a commercial centre serving eastern Nebraska and parts of neighbouring Iowa, with demand generated by offices, healthcare facilities, warehouses, schools, manufacturing sites and other properties subject to inspection and maintenance requirements.

Fire safety service companies typically benefit from repeat business because building owners must keep alarms, sprinkler systems, extinguishers and emergency equipment operational. Inspections can also generate repair, replacement and system-upgrade work, providing operators with a mix of recurring revenue and project-based income.

These characteristics have made the sector attractive to private equity firms seeking resilient business services platforms. Industry transaction activity has remained strong, with investors pursuing regional operators that can be combined into larger networks offering broader geographic coverage and a more complete range of services.

An average of about 38 fire and life safety transactions per quarter has been announced since 2020. Deal activity has been supported by the sector’s regional structure, ageing ownership among smaller contractors and the increasing complexity of technical standards, customer reporting and workforce management.

Larger platforms can centralise purchasing, accounting, compliance systems and administrative functions while maintaining local branches for customer service. They can also invest in technician recruitment, digital inspection records, scheduling software and monitoring capabilities that may be expensive for smaller businesses to develop independently.

The consolidation trend carries operational challenges. Buyers must retain qualified technicians, maintain response times and ensure that integration does not weaken local service quality. Fire protection work requires trained personnel and familiarity with state and municipal regulations, making workforce retention a central issue when ownership changes.

Guardian’s management team remained shareholders after Investcorp’s acquisition, providing continuity as the business expands. The investment was made through Investcorp’s North American private equity strategy, which focuses on mid-market companies with opportunities for organic growth and add-on acquisitions.

Investcorp, based in Bahrain, manages alternative investments across private equity, real estate, credit, infrastructure and other asset classes. Its ownership of Guardian adds to a portfolio of business-services companies positioned for expansion through acquisitions and operational investment.