Bradenton emergency apparatus distributor acquires Mississippi company

A Bradenton-based emergency apparatus distributor is expanding across the Southeast, with the acquisition of a Mississippi-headquartered company. Ten-8 Fire & Safety has acquired Emergency Equipment Professionals (EEP). Both companies provide emergency equipment sales and services in multiple states. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

“This is about strengthening our ability to serve the fire and emergency service community while preserving the values both organizations share,” Ten-8 Fire & Safety President and CEO B. Keith Chapman says in a statement. 

Ten–8 Fire & Safety has more than 250 employees, while EEP has 75, a Ten-8 spokesperson tells the Business Observer. 

Combining the two companies will create a broader network of regional service centers with enhanced parts distribution, supported by a regional team dedicated to helping departments remain operational, minimize downtime and maintain modern emergency response and vocational fleets and equipment, according to the statement. 

One of the greatest benefits of joining forces, Chapman says in a video accompanying the acquisition announcement, is the ability to add specialized sales teams. “We’ve done that in Florida and Georgia,” Chapman says. “We’re looking forward to doing that in the states that EEP represents, and we think it will be a big win for the customers as they see the horsepower behind that.”

Ten-8 Fire & Safety has 11 locations in Florida and Georgia, including operations for its industrial subsidiary. EEP provides fire apparatus sales and service in Alabama and Mississippi and ambulance sales and service in Arkansas and Tennessee.

Moving forward, EEP customers will continue working with the same team, now bolstered by the broader resources, infrastructure and capabilities of Ten-8 Fire & Safety, the statement says.

“I’m excited for both our employees and our customers,” EEP owner Jeff Kuntz says in the statement. “Ten-8 and EEP share very similar values and a common approach to serving our customers. Bringing the two organizations together creates a stronger platform that benefits everyone involved.” 

Kuntz will still retain an ownership interest in the business, he says in the video accompanying the acquisition announcement.

“You’ll see a new name," Kuntz says, "but you’ll see the same people, the same great products and the same high commitment to customer service that we’ve always had."