Capidea Acquires Majority Stake in Fire Eater A/S

The Danish private equity firm Capidea is now the majority owner of Fire Eater, an international provider of Inergen-based fire suppression solutions. Inergen offers significant advantages over other solutions as it represents an environmentally friendly and safe option that protects both people and valuable assets. In close partnership with the management team and the founder’s son, Torbjørn Laursen, Capidea will support the company’s continued growth and development.

The management team and Torbjørn, in collaboration with Blue Equity, have positioned Fire Eater as a leading provider of next-generation fire protection solutions, focusing significantly on sustainability and the safeguarding of critical business assets. As industry pioneers, Fire Eater delivers a premium solution tailored to high-growth market segments such as data centers, renewable energy, and the global pharmaceutical industry.

“We have closely followed Fire Eater over the years and are impressed by their products, which represent the future of firefighting, where sustainability and safety go hand in hand. We see the future partnership between Fire Eater and Capidea as an opportunity to combine our respective experience and strengths to continue driving international growth, and we look forward to the shared journey together with Torbjørn Laursen, Ivan Grosser, and the rest of the leadership team at Fire Eater,” says Carsten Hemme, Partner at Capidea.

“Today, Fire Eater is a stronger, more balanced, and larger company than it was when Blue Equity entered a co-ownership and partnership with Torbjørn Laursen in 2017. Fire Eater’s development has primarily been driven by a skilled management team and dedicated, competent employees. I am pleased that Blue Equity has been able to support and contribute to this progress. We have placed great importance on finding a new co-owner whose values align as closely as possible with those of Fire Eater. Capidea is acquiring a well-run company with a solid foundation and exciting growth opportunities. We look forward to following Fire Eater’s development in the coming years,” says Thomas Bonde, Managing Partner at Blue Equity.

“Fire Eater is my life’s work, and it has been a pleasure to collaborate with Blue Equity and our many dedicated employees, bringing the company to its current level,” says Torbjørn Laursen. “I am delighted that Fire Eater is now taking the next steps with Capidea, and I look forward to working closely with them to ensure Fire Eater’s continued growth and success.”

“In my four years at Fire Eater, I have always been deeply impressed by the dedication, innovative approach, and uncompromising focus on quality from our employees,” states Ivan Grosser, CEO. “The pride and determination to deliver the industry’s best products, high competence, and exceptional service form the foundation of our success – both today and in the future. I have had an excellent partnership with Blue Equity and look forward to a strong collaboration with Capidea. Together, we will further develop Fire Eater in the years to come, and this transition marks the start of a new chapter for Fire Eater. All employees and I are excited to embark on this journey.”

About Fire Eater
Fire Eater was founded in 1974 by Aage Laursen, the father of Torbjørn Laursen. In 1984, Torbjørn invented the Inergen fire protection solution, which remains the company’s core product. Fire Eater is a niche provider of Inergen-based fire protection solutions, sold in more than 50 countries, with Denmark, Norway, and the UK/Ireland as the largest markets. The company is headquartered in Hillerød, with offices in Norway and Ireland. An office in the USA is currently being established, with plans for expansion into additional countries. Fire Eater employs approximately 65 people in Denmark and around 100 employees globally.

Inert gas-based fire protection systems, including Inergen, are gaining traction worldwide due to their safety and environmental benefits compared to sprinkler and chemical-based systems.

For more information about Fire Eater, please visit fire-eater.com.

About Capidea
Capidea is a Danish private equity firm that makes long-term investments in competitive small and medium-sized Danish companies. Established in 2006, Capidea has total committed capital of approximately DKK 3.6 billion / EUR 473 million across four funds. Capidea invests in businesses within trade, distribution, services, IT, and manufacturing. Since 2006, Capidea has acquired 32 companies, with Fire Eater being the sixth investment in Capidea’s latest fund, Capidea Kapital IV K/S, established in April 2023 with total commitments of DKK 1.3 billion / EUR 175 million.

For more information about Capidea, please visit capidea.eu.