Welcome to MÁS Capital Partners
We are your primary contact when it comes to M&A and strategy consulting within the fire and security industries.
About us
"Everything comes to him,
who hustles while he waits on success."
MÁS Capital Partners is a consulting company for strategic advice and mergers and acquisitions in the European electronic security and fire suppression market. As a natural consequence of our specialization we are very familiar with these industries. We know the market and players, potential clients, buyers and sellers. We are experts in the strategic and operational aspects of these markets, we know where and how to deliver operational excellence, and we know where capital can be obtained, be it through private equity, venture or other funds.
In recent years, the security market has grown steadily. Many new companies have successfully positioned themselves, particularly in the field of installation & services of electronic security systems, monitoring and guarding services and in the fire protection sector. The security services providers have grown in number and size. Due to the diversity of the companies operating in this market, we only advise and invest in companies that are certified as a fire and/or security service providers or installers. Our consulting services can be requested by international, national, and regional players.
We advise companies that fit this profile, and who want to grow through new acquisitions or through access to new capital, who are looking for merger opportunities, as well as companies who want to exit or divest parts of their portfolios. Last but not least, we also consult owners of security and fire suppression companies who want to pass on control as part of their succession planning.
ManagementMÁS Capital Partners is a privately owned consulting company, managed by experienced former executives of global players in the security industry.
Matthias Ernst has held for more than 30 years senior positions within the industry, including vice president roles at Tyco Fire & Security, where he was responsible, among others, for its European operations, as well as the global account management group which was responsible for the company’s largest 100 commercial customers worldwide. Under his leadership, Tyco Fire & Security grew organically and through acquisitions in double digits. Through strategic partnerships with private equity firms and other global security companies such as Honeywell and UTC, he drove portfolio optimizations, be it through the expansion of its business in Eastern Europe, through the acquisition of sales and service organizations and product solution providers, or the divestment of non-strategic holdings in other regions of the world.
Jochen Möller also has been in executive leadership positions over the past 20 years, largely within the security industry. As executive vice president at Schleicher International AG, he was responsible for business strategy, new growth segments and turn arounds. As senior director he managed several entities of Tyco Fire & Security Germany and as managing director he was leading a Dutch high security firm. He is a member of the management board in several European security associations, and is frequently asked to appear as key note speaker at international security symposiums focusing on legal and technical matters. Since 1994 he has been regularly involved in business valuations and other M&A projects.
John Pownall has over 30 years of experience owning and directing a large number of successful companies in the UK and overseas. This has given John a depth of experience which he brings to all our projects.
Originally trained and working in finance and then sales and marketing with two of the UK’s leading blue chip manufacturing companies, John has experience of industry-leading approaches, processes and practice. He led the growth of Atapco Security and Communications after selling this private company to the American conglomerate. After building up Secom Plc to a leading national installer in the UK electronic security market through organic growth and targeted acquisitions he operated as Vice President of Tyco’s business in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
John has particular experience in electronic security monitoring having been a member of Securitas European Management team as well as running the Securitas UK monitoring and control centres. Having led trade sales of companies he owned and multi–million pound acquisitions John has skills, judgment and expertise to assist all clients in achieving their own company goals and objectives. As an experienced business leader who has built businesses, integrated brands, led multi -disciplinary teams and turned failing companies into successes, he currently operates as a consultant to SME’s and other commercial institutions including private equity investors and holds a number of Non-Executive roles.
Our ApproachOne of our unbeatable strengths is that we are specialists in the security and fire suppression markets. Thus, we not only know horses and riders - both on the buyer and seller side, but also serve as experts for all industry-specific business aspects. What is all Greek to generalist M&A advisory firms, is daily practice for us. We know what makes a fire suppression company grow its portfolio successfully, we understand the key performance indicators of alarm monitoring companies, we are on top of regulatory requirements and changes to come, we can best assess the competitive strengths of F&S product solutions deployed by any given player, and we know all about the strengths, opportunities and challenges of each major player in this sector.
Strategic and Operational consultingYou would like to enhance your business strategically or operationally? We would be pleased to partner with you, even when it gets complex, or when only smaller assignments are required. We will show you where you can enhance your business efficiency, how to enhance sales and margins, where to take costs out, how to mitigate risk. If you wish, we go way beyond this analysis and help you implement the changes agreed upon. And our model of success is based on your success – both are intrinsically linked together.
"If there is any one secret of success,
it lies in the ability to get the other person's point of view."
Company AcquisitionsYou already have a business and want to grow through targeted acquisitions? You are interested in an LBO or an MBI? You want to put together a portfolio of security companies, national or international? In any case, we are your partner of choice when it comes to the ideal advisory for potential acquisitions and growth strategies. Our customers include international corporations, private equity firms, as well as SMEs and individual investors.
Our consulting services are wide-ranging. We assist interested buyers in the market analysis, provide specific views of industry-specific growth areas and strategies, and identify potential acquisition candidates. We analyse strategy, value and fit, current and future product and service portfolios. We evaluate opportunities and risks, assess security certifications, staff and management skills, as well as potential USPs. Naturally, operational and financial evaluations are our core competency. We advise our clients in all phases of an acquisition, from market analysis to due diligence, and the successful integration of the acquired company. We are your partner even on the question of selecting suitable executives with in-depth industry knowledge and cultural fit, should this be a concern of yours.
Company MergersIt goes without saying, you can equally rely on our expertise when it comes to intended corporate mergers, be it at national or international levels. Our focus is on medium-sized companies who want to increase their competitiveness by mergers of equals, or who work on a succession plan. We evaluate the market in terms of suitable merger candidates, and we know for sure that questions about matching management styles and corporate cultures are paramount for success of any merger.
"Action is the foundational key to all success."
Search for shareholders or investorsWhether venture capital, private equity, or other forms of investment, we are also specialized in identifying potential investors, silent or active. Many of the process steps are identical to the corporate sale, but venture capital firms evaluate companies based on other aspects than private equity funds would do. Aspects such as these must be considered when it comes to a company presentation. Again, we are your ideal partner, whether you already run a business or want to establish one.
Succession planningYou may have built your fire/security company from scratch. You may have taken over a family business a long time ago. In either case, you now face the difficult decision of handing over this business to an external successor. Your heart and soul is with your company, your employees and your customers. Although you know the fire and security market, you do not know how to pass your business professionally and confidentially to a successor who may, or not, meet your requirements, and who is willing to pay for your company the price you think it is worth. These are classic problems, but you are not alone here. We will take you by our professional hand and guide you through all pitfalls, honestly and openly. Talk to us, and let us have a first non-binding and confidential discussion, in which we will show you what to look for, what risks you need to take and avoid, and how you can successfully hand over your reins.