Checkmate

Checkmate Fire was a leading specialist in passive fire protection in the UK, offering a comprehensive range of services across sectors such as healthcare, education, government, social housing, and commercial property. Its services ranged from inspecting and maintaining fire systems to providing turnkey installation solutions, ensuring compliance with increasingly stringent fire safety regulations.

During YFM Equity Partners’ ownership, Checkmate experienced significant growth, establishing itself as a market leader in passive fire protection. In 2024, YFM successfully exited its investment through a sale to IK Partners, a European private equity firm.

YFM invested in Checkmate in 2018, recognising its strong potential, with a growing demand for passive fire protection services, driven by increased market regulation. The business’s commitment to safety, innovation, and regulatory compliance aligned with YFM’s focus on supporting high-potential businesses.

Achievements Under YFM’s Investment
During its partnership with YFM, Checkmate achieved several key milestones that strengthened its market position and set the stage for continued growth:

• Strategic Acquisitions: Acquired Rosse Systems, an active fire protection provider, to complement its existing services and broaden its fire safety offering.
• Market Leadership: Grew into the UK’s largest provider of passive fire protection, managing systems in over 2,000 buildings nationwide and conducting more than 30,000 fire door remediations annually.
• Technological Innovation: Invested in operational technology to enhance efficiency, improve compliance reporting, and deliver more value to clients.
• Revenue Growth: Achieved transformational growth in turnover and profitability, supported by long-term contracts and a focus on environmentally sustainable practices.
• Operational Expansion: Strengthened its geographical footprint with four offices across the UK, ensuring nationwide service coverage.

These achievements reflect Checkmate’s evolution into a market leader under YFM’s strategic guidance, culminating in its acquisition by IK Partners.