CCF was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. CCF is the creator and category leader in branded popcorn seasonings under the Kernel Season’s brand name. The Kernel Season’s product portfolio includes more than twenty popcorn flavors, ranging from simple butter and white cheddar to garlic parmesan and cheesy caramel corn, as well as popcorn oils and drizzles.

During Highlander’s ownership, CCF has introduced additional brands; including Tasty Shakes oatmeal mix-ins, Veggie Season’s vegetable seasonings and the recently introduced premium Truffle Season’s popcorn seasonings. The Company’s products are sold in more than 22,000 retailers, including mass merchants, grocery and specialty stores, throughout North America and internationally. The products also can be found in movie theaters in more than 30 countries worldwide, accounting for over 32,000 screens.

Jeff L. Hull, President and CEO of Highlander, commented, “This sale marks the culmination of a very deliberate strategy of broadening the product line through additional flavors to existing products and introducing new seasoning offerings for use with other product categories. The management team, led by Jason Roy, has driven tremendous growth through innovation, new customer penetration and increased consumer awareness.”

Jason Roy, CEO of CCF, stated, “We are excited about the new opportunities with Sauer Brands, and also very appreciative of the support that Highlander provided during our tenure.  We are ready for the future and the team is energized by the possibilities and new opportunities. Our Kernel Season’s brand has exceptional consumer awareness and we are equally excited about our new brands and product offerings, too.”

Jeff Partridge, CCF Chairman and a Highlander Managing Director, added, “Jason and his team have done an exemplary job. The speed of innovation and creativity in developing high quality new products has only been outdone by the immense growth the company has experienced. We want to thank Jason and the entire team for an incredible job and wish them the best.”

BlackArch Partners served as the exclusive financial advisor to CCF in connection with this transaction and Katten served as legal advisor.

About Highlander Partners
Highlander Partners, L.P. is a Dallas-based private investment firm with over $2.0 billion of assets under management. The firm focuses on making investments in businesses in targeted industries in which the principals of the firm have significant operating and investing experience, including basic manufacturing, food, chemicals, building materials, consumer products, and others. Highlander Partners uses a “buy and build” investment approach, creating value by helping companies grow organically and through acquisitions.  For more information, visit www.highlander-partners.com.

Media Contacts
Highlander Partners: Jeff Hull, jhull@highlander-partners.com.
Falfurrias Capital Partners: David Coburn, (704) 408-4276, dcoburn@thinklga.com.

Headquartered in Poland, Akomex is one of the leading manufacturers of packaging in Central Europe, specializing in high-quality solid cardboard, leaflets, labels, trays and laminated sheets for the pharmaceutical, food, electronics, technology, personal care and home appliance sectors.  Akomex, founded in 1993, maintains two manufacturing operations in Poland and one converting operation in Denmark, producing over 1.8 billion items per year.

Highlander acquired controlling interest in Akomex in 2010, undertaking a significant capacity expansion through new facilities and state-of-the-art production equipment in Starogard Gdanski, Poland.  In 2014, Akomex acquired Druk Pak, located in Aleksandrów Kujawski, Poland, to further diversify its offerings into pharmaceutical packaging.  This acquisition was followed by the acquisition of Danish packaging producer, Planopack of Herning, Denmark, in 2018.  The combination of these three companies created one of the largest packaging companies in Central Europe, serving many of the world’s leading food and pharmaceutical producers.

“We are very pleased to complete this transaction and happy that Sebastian is able to once again become the majority shareholder. We have been a very patient investor, owning Akomex for over nine years, and invested heavily in the company during our ownership period, including two significant add-on acquisitions. It is very satisfying to see such an outstanding outcome,” stated Jeff L. Hull, President and CEO of Highlander.

“We are very pleased with the job that Grzegorz Łajca, President and CEO of Akomex Group, and his team have done in making Akomex a leader in Central Europe, and we wish them and Sebastian the best as they continue to grow the company,” added Artur Dzagarow, Managing Partner of the Highlander Partners Central Europe – Poland office.

Rothschild and Co. (Rothschild Polska Sp. z o.o. – www.rothschildandco.com) acted as exclusive financial advisor to Highlander, and GESSEL (www.gessel.pl) served as Highlander’s legal adviser.

CIC Corporate Finance (www.cic.pl) acted as a transaction adviser to Sebastian Śliwa and Mezzanine Management. Baker & McKenzie (www.bakermckenzie.com) and Norton Rose (www.nortonrosefulbright.com) acted as legal advisers.

Additionally EY performed due-diligence analysis.

About Highlander Partners
Highlander Partners, L.P. is a Dallas-based private investment firm with over $2 billion of assets under management.  The firm focuses on making investments in businesses in targeted industries in which the principals of the firm have significant operating and investing experience, including basic manufacturing, food, chemicals, building materials, consumer products, and others.  Highlander Partners uses a “buy and build” investment approach, creating value by helping companies grow organically and through acquisitions. For more information, visit www.highlander-partners.com.

About Mezzanine Management
Mezzanine Management is currently investing from Accession Mezzanine Capital IV, which closed in 2018 on €264 million and is the firm’s largest vehicle to-date. Mezzanine Management is the exclusive advisor to the Accession Mezzanine Capital group of funds, whose total investments exceed €700m. Since 2000, Mezzanine Management has been operating in Central and Eastern Europe through its offices in Vienna, Warsaw, Bucharest, Budapest and Prague. The funds’ investment portfolio is diverse, with more than 50 transactions across 12 countries in CEE. The funds are backed by reputable institutional investors, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Fund and a number of banks, funds of funds, pension funds and insurance companies. For more information, visit www.mezzmanagement.com

Since it was founded, the brand SanoVita (latin for “healthy life”) has represented a healthier alternative to traditional foods.  The Company offers a wide range of products, including snacks, cereals, rice cakes, tofu, mueslis, and nut and seed mixes.  Its founders inspired in the Company their strong beliefs that nutrition is key to a healthy life, anticipating and contributing to the consumer shift towards better eating habits in Romania, a trend which is still in early stages in the country and growing rapidly.

Highlander’s portfolio includes a variety of food and beverage companies across the world.  It plans to accelerate the growth of SanoVita by introducing new products, enhancing capabilities at existing production facilities and pursuing strategic M&A.  All the while, Highlander intends to continue SanoVita’s culture and commitment to the highest quality standards.

Raluca Nita, Managing Director of Highlander Partners commented, “We are very excited that SanoVita marks our second investment in Romania in less than one year.  We believe the Company has significant growth opportunities, which will be driven by increased consumer awareness and product innovation.  This acquisition underscores Highlander’s desire to invest in high quality branded companies; in particular, Highlander has a significant track record in the food industry which we are delighted to be applying to SanoVita.”

The founders of SanoVita will partner with Highlander and continue to support the development of the business.  “We are thrilled to be working with Highlander, which has repeatedly demonstrated its focus on building long-term value for its portfolio companies.  We count on Highlander to prepare SanoVita for the next stage of growth while maintaining the same values embedded in SanoVita’s culture.  With enhanced operational and strategic support, we will continue to expand our market position and heighten SanoVita’s brand, which already has a considerable consumer awareness in the Romanian market” stated the Founders of SanoVita: Cornel Soare, Ion Dan and Dumitru Dan.

Jeff L. Hull, President and CEO of Highlander Partners, added “We look forward to applying our expertise in the food industry to SanoVita.  The business is extremely well-positioned today, and we believe we can take the brand to the next level with accelerated innovation and expanded distribution.  We also firmly believe that our ‘buy and build’ approach will be successful in this sector, as it has been in other parts of the world.  We will target companies with strong growth potential and excellent brand equity as we look to complement SanoVita’s product portfolio through continued M&A.”

Kinstellar acted as legal counsel to Highlander Partners and TS Partners as financial and tax advisor, while RTPR Allen & Overy acted as a legal counsel to SanoVita’s founders.

About SanoVita
SanoVita was founded in 1995 out of a desire to educate and change the Romanian lifestyle and eating habits.  SanoVita is one of the most important players on the healthy & vegetarian food products market in Romania and is a pioneer in categories like cereal and muesli.  Today, Sano Vita’s portfolio includes a diversity of cereals, healthy snacks and organic products.

About Highlander Partners, L.P.
Highlander Partners, L.P. is a Dallas-based private investment firm with approximately $2 billion of assets under management. The firm focuses on making investments in businesses in targeted industries in which the principals of the firm have significant operating and investing experience. Highlander employs a buy and build investment approach, creating value by helping companies grow organically and through acquisitions.  For more information, visit www.highlander-partners.com

HRT is the inventor of and leader in wireless technology that creates the most effective experience for wireless presentation and video collaboration in meeting and huddle rooms.  Its flagship product, the Huddle Hub, allows computers and mobile devices to connect to room peripherals including displays, speakers, microphones, and cameras without any physical connection.  Once connected, users can display content, launch applications, and engage in meetings using their preferred applications on their own familiar device.  Unlike competing solutions, the Huddle Hub adds multi-user screen sharing which allows several users to share content to the room display simultaneously.

“The acquisition of HRT is further demonstration of Biamp’s capacity as a global AV platform,” commented Ben Slater, Managing Director at Highlander Partners and Co-Chairman of Biamp.  “We are rapidly and effectively extending our product portfolio with both industry leading in-house development as well as targeted M&A.  We welcome Stefano Spattini and his team to the Biamp family and look forward to introducing HRT technology to our partners and end customers around the world.”

“HRT has shown impressive vision and technical expertise designing the Huddle Hub to create a truly unique and potent meeting device,” said Rashid Skaf, President, CEO, and Co-Chairman of Biamp.  “Providing wireless USB, screen sharing, screen rebroadcasting and Smart Room integration all from one platform will allow us to create truly extraordinary experiences for our customers.  HRT is a natural and complementary addition to Biamp’s portfolio that we’re certain will be well received by integrators and end users alike.”

“I’m extremely proud of the technology and products we have developed at HRT,” added Stefano Spattini, CEO of HRT.  “The Huddle Hub has unparalleled potential to improve the global meeting experience.  Joining Biamp aligns us with a partner who is equally excited by what we’ve built and has the market reach and resources to take full advantage of what our solutions have to offer.  I’m enthusiastic about what we will achieve together.”

Jeff L. Hull, Highlander President and CEO, also added “HRT’s cutting edge technology will further enhance Biamp’s offering in the evolving modern day corporate environment.  Highlander has been very active in identifying and acquiring innovative technologies for Biamp that heighten its market leading position.  HRT is another example of that strategy.  We intend to continue this successful buy-and-build approach.”

About Highlander Partners
Highlander Partners, L.P. is a Dallas-based private investment firm with approximately $2 billion of assets under management.  The firm focuses on making investments in businesses in targeted industries in which the principals of the firm have significant operating and investing experience.  Highlander employs a buy and build investment approach, creating value by helping companies grow organically and through acquisitions. For more information, visit www.highlander-partners.com.

About Biamp Systems
Biamp Systems, LLC is a leading provider of innovative, networked media systems that power the world’s most sophisticated audiovisual installations. The company is recognized worldwide for delivering high-quality products and backing each one with a commitment to exceptional customer service. Biamp is dedicated to creating products that drive the evolution of communication through sight and sound. The award-winning Biamp product suite includes: Tesira media system for digital audio and video networking, Deviocollaboration tool for modern workplaces, Audia digital audio platform, Nexia digital signal processors, Vocia networked public address and voice evacuation system, Cambridge Sound Management sound masking solutions, and loudspeakers for installed sound applications from Community Loudspeakers and Apart Audio. Each has its own specific feature set that can be customized and integrated in a wide range of applications, including corporate boardrooms, conference centers, huddle rooms, open floor environments, performing arts venues, courtrooms, hospitals, transportation hubs, campuses, retail, hospitality, military and government, and multi-building facilities. Founded in 1976, Biamp is headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, USA, with additional offices around the globe. For more information, please visit www.biamp.com.

About Huddle Room Technology Srl
The mission of HRT is to deliver technological solutions that create the most comfortable and effective experience for wireless presentation and video communication in huddle rooms. With this goal in mind, HRT conceived Huddle Hub One, the first product designed to supplement current AV technologies in order to enhance the user experience. Huddle Hub brings huddle room video communication to an unprecedented level of comfort, effectiveness and flexibility. For more information, please visit www.hrt.website.

The company is being acquired by Sebastian Śliwa, the co-founder of Akomex and a current minority shareholder, jointly with the management and support from AMC Capital IV S.c.Sp., a fund advised by Mezzanine Management.

Highlander acquired controlling interest in Akomex in 2010, undertaking a significant capacity expansion through new facilities and state-of-the-art production equipment in Starogard Gdanski, Poland.  In 2014, Akomex acquired, Druk Pak in Aleksandrów Kujawski, Poland, to further diversify its offerings into pharmaceutical packaging.  This acquisition was followed by the acquisition of Danish packaging producer, Planopack of Herning, Denmark, in 2018.  The combination of these three companies created one of the largest packaging companies in Central Europe, serving many of the world’s leading food and pharmaceutical producers.

“After more than nine years and two significant add-on acquisitions, including a take-private transaction, we are very pleased with the results and outcome of the Akomex Group.  The management team has done an incredible job of integrating the businesses into a leading packaging concern, serving the biggest names in the food and pharmaceutical industries,” stated Artur Dzagarow, Managing Partner of the Highlander Warsaw office.

“Akomex is a perfect example of the patient capital approach that Highlander undertakes.  We have owned Akomex since 2010, and we have significantly expanded its facilities and capabilities through capital investment, invested in professional management and completed very significant and strategic acquisitions,” added Jeff L. Hull, Highlander President and CEO.  Hull continued, “we are very pleased with the job that Grzegorz Łajca, President and CEO of Akomex Group, and his team have done in making Akomex a leader in Central Europe.  We wish them and Sebastian the best in their future endeavors.  We believe that Akomex is very well situated to succeed in the future.”

Rothschild & Co (Rothschild & Co Polska – www.rothschildandco.com) acted as exclusive financial advisor to Highlander, and Kancelaria Gessel (www.gessel.pl) as Highlander’s legal adviser.

CIC Corporate Finance (www.cic.pl) acted as a transaction adviser to Sebastian Śliwa and Mezzanine Management. Baker & McKenzie (www.bakermckenzie.com) and Norton Rose (www.nortonrosefulbright.com) acted as legal advisers.  Additionally, EY performed due-diligence analysis.

About Highlander Partners
Highlander Partners, L.P. is a Dallas-based private investment firm with over $2 billion of assets under management.  The firm focuses on making investments in businesses in targeted industries in which the principals of the firm have significant operating and investing experience, including basic manufacturing, food, chemicals, building materials, consumer products, and others.  Highlander Partners uses a “buy and build” investment approach, creating value by helping companies grow organically and through acquisitions. For more information, visit www.highlander-partners.com.

About Mezzanine Management
Mezzanine Management is currently investing from Accession Mezzanine Capital IV, which closed on €264 million in 2018 and is the firm’s largest vehicle to-date. The firm is adding a direct lending strategy to its regional private debt platform to address the growing yet underserved opportunity in its core market of Central Europe. Mezzanine Management is the exclusive advisor to the Accession Mezzanine Capital group of funds, whose total investments exceed €700m. Mezzanine Management has been operating in Central and Eastern Europe since 2000 through its offices in Vienna, Warsaw, Bucharest, Budapest and Prague. The funds’ investment portfolio is diverse, with more than 50 transactions across 12 countries in CEE. The funds are backed by reputable institutional investors, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Fund and a number of banks, funds of funds, pension funds and insurance companies. For more information, visit www.mezzmanagement.com

Chicas tortilla chips are crafted in pure rice bran oil and topped with sea salt, a unique receipe with health benefits and no cholesterol or trans fats. Chicas also produces a homemade gourmet salsa. Irlanda Montes, founder and CEO, started the business by selling her salsa at Farmers Markets in Southern California. She wanted her customers to have a sturdy and delicious chip to try her salsa with, so she started brining her own homemade chips for sampling. Customers quickly realized Montes’ tortilla chips were like no other brands at the grocery store and began requesting to purchase the chips themselves. The authentic corn tortilla chips are now the flagship product for the Chicas brand and sold in over 100 locations throughout California.

“We are very excited to be partnering with Irlanda, Rafael and the rest of the Chicas team. The passion and story behind the brand coupled with the unmatched flavor and authencity of the tortilla chip will appeal to consumers across the US. With Benestar’s robust distribution network we can help bring Chicas Chips to new markets,” commented Carl Lee, CEO of Benestar Brands. “This is a continuation of our established strategy to build a diverse salty snack platform.”

Jeff Partridge, Chairman of Benestar Brands and Managing Director at Highlander Partners said, “When we established Benestar, we established an active M&A platform in the salty snack space. We believe Chicas will prove to be a great example of taking an exceptional product led by a committed family and bringing it to the next level by leveraging Benestar distribution and customer relationships. We will continue to target brands with exceptional growth prospects, unique products and strong brand equity.”

About Benestar
Benestar is a leader in the salty snacks space. The company manufactures pork rinds under the Mac’s label, private label and co-manufactures for some of the fastest growing ultra premium brands. Benestar also manufactures tortilla chips under the Chicas brand. Founded in 1947, the company is headquartered in Chicago. Benestar currently operates six production facilities (Chicago, IL; Arlington, TX; Portsmouth, OH; City of Industry, CA; Thomaston, GA; and Saltillo, Mexico). For more information, please visit www.evansfood.com.

About Highlander Partners
Highlander Partners, L.P. is a Dallas-based private investment firm with over $2 billion of assets under management. The firm focuses on making investments in businesses in targeted industries in which the principals of the firm have significant operating and investing experience, including basic manufacturing, food, chemicals, building materials, consumer products, and others. Highlander Partners uses a buy and build investment approach, creating value by helping companies grow organically and through acquisitions. For more information, visit www.highlander-partners.com.

Highlander, in partnership with Popular Ink’s management team, acquired the company in January 2015, and successfully partnered with Dru Riess, the founder and CEO of Popular Ink, to build out its management team, increase and upgrade its production capabilities, and grow revenue by 91%.

John Beckert, Highlander Operating Partner and lead director of Popular Ink, commented, “We have enjoyed having the opportunity to work with Dru Riess and the Popular Ink management team, who did an excellent job dramatically growing and improving the business over the last five years and positioning the company for a successful sale to PPC, which we believe represents a strong partner to support Popular Ink’s continued growth in the future.”

Dru Riess added, “Both Popular Ink, as a company, and I, personally, have benefitted greatly from our strong relationship with the team at Highlander and the guidance they provided to our management team in successfully developing and executing our growth strategy and exploiting the exciting opportunity in the flexible packaging space over the last five years.”

Mesirow Financial served as the exclusive advisor to Highlander and Popular Ink in the transaction.

About Popular Ink, LLC
Popular Ink is a Texas-based leading provider of custom printed flexible packaging for the consumer products market throughout the United States. Product capabilities include stick packs, single serve liquid/gel packets and pouches, and single serve dry powder packets. In addition, the Popular Ink has the ability to produce stand-up bags, labels, shrink sleeves and boxes. Popular Ink functions as an extension of its clients’ organizations by offering single source solutions with complete prepress, printing, finishing along with complete inventory management and fulfillment capabilities. For more information, visit www.popular-ink.com.

About Highlander Partners, L.P.
Highlander Partners, L.P. is a Dallas-based private investment firm with over $2 billion of assets under management.  The firm focuses on making investments in businesses in targeted industries in which the principals of the firm have significant operating and investing experience, including basic manufacturing, food, chemicals, building materials, consumer products, and others.  Highlander Partners uses a “buy and build” investment approach, creating value by helping companies grow organically and through acquisitions. For more information, visit www.highlander-partners.com

About PPC Flexible Packaging, LLC
Based in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, PPC Flexible Packaging is a leading provider converted flexible packaging for the healthcare, medical, organic snack, pet food, bakery and produce markets. The company excels in the design and manufacture of value-added printed, laminated and stand up pouch packaging for the most demanding applications. Recognized for its focus on exceptional speed to market, it excels in delivering service, quality and technology to its valued customer base. The company is privately owned by management and Morgan Stanley Capital Partners. To learn more, please visit www.ppcflex.com.

About Mesirow Financial
Mesirow Financial is an independent, employee-owned firm founded in 1937. As specialists in investment, risk management and advisory services, we are committed to helping our institutional, corporate and individual clients achieve their objectives. Our professionals are inspired by an entrepreneurial desire to develop tailored solutions that deliver measurable results. To learn more, please visit mesirowfinancial.com.

Headquartered in Chicago, Evans is an international producer of branded, co-packed and private label pork rinds.  Its diverse branded portfolio includes Mac’s, its largest branded offering and the #1 multi-outlet store brand for pork rinds in the US, alongside its other brands: Turkey Creek, Don Rudy, Cazo de Oro and Domingo’s.  Pork rinds are one of the fastest growing snack items, bolstered by the emerging interest of consumers to add these products to their diets as a nutritional option.  Consumers have discovered that pork rinds or “chicharrónes” are a snack that is rich in protein, gluten-free and contains no carbohydrates, which appeals to a variety of consumers, particularly millennials.  Evans’ growth is also enhanced by strong demographic trends and the Company’s continuous innovation of its offerings, flavors and packaging.

Benestar, a Catalan word that translates as wellness or well-being, is an apt new platform name to represent a product like chicharrónes.  Under Benestar, the Evans operations will continue to be uniquely positioned to capitalize on this rapidly growing and better-for-you snack category.

“Highlander has experienced rapid growth over the past five years, with assets under management growing to over $2 billion.  Our strategy has been focused on developing verticals that enhance our financial performance and provide appropriate risk-adjusted returns.  Food and beverage has been a focus and specifically the better-for-you, salty snack category,” stated Jeff L. Hull, President and CEO of Highlander.  “We have developed a team to focus in this area and to identify outstanding opportunities to grow our presence in the food sector.  We intend to make additional acquisitions around this strategy, both for Benestar and in other sectors of the food industry,” added Hull.

Highlander has been working closely with Carl E. Lee, Jr., who previously served as President and CEO of Snyder’s-Lance Inc before it was sold to Campbell Soup for over $6 billion in 2018.  Mr. Lee will assume the President and CEO position at Benestar and lead the company and the Evans operations on a go-forward basis.  Mr. Lee commented, “I am extremely excited to have this opportunity to partner with Highlander and the Evans team. This business reminds me of Snyder’s when I joined as CEO; a leading manufacturer and distributor in a fast growing category focused on a shift toward better-for-you snacks.  There is tremendous potential within Evans, and I look forward to implementing some of the strategies we used in the past to bring Evans’ products and other snacks to more consumers across the US.”

Additionally, Jeff Partridge, a Managing Director that joined Highlander in 2017 and a seasoned food executive (having previously served as CEO of Truco Enterprises, the licensee for On the Border Tortilla Chips; CEO of Combs Produce; and as Vice President at The Coca Cola Company), commented, “This is a great transaction for our team. We have been actively seeking an investment in the snack category.  Evans, along with what is sure to be excellent leadership from Carl Lee, is the perfect avenue.  We are also pleased that Evans’ previous Chairman and CEO (and formerly President for Quaker Oats North America), Jose L. Prado, will join Benestar as Vice Chairman.  I know our firm is the right owner for this asset and with our best-in-class team we will take Benestar to the next level through organic growth and acquisitions.”  Mr. Partridge will serve as Chairman of Benestar and will work closely with Mr. Lee and Mr. Prado.

“This acquisition affirms Highlander’s focus on investing in high-quality, branded consumer product companies, including food.  We have been diligent in targeting attractive brands with our consumer and food team and it is not every day that an asset like this is available.  We are thrilled to acquire Evans and to assist in its growth trajectory.  I am also excited about the potential of Benestar executing a ‘buy and build’ strategy in the snack food industry, as we target companies with strong growth potential and excellent brand equity.  Benestar’s principals have executed dozens of transactions in the food and snack category and will be using their expertise to acquire both standalone businesses and carveouts,” reiterated Mr. Hull.

William Blair acted as exclusive financial advisor to Evans.  Antares provided senior financing, and Norwest Mezzanine Partners provided mezzanine debt and equity in support of the transaction.

About Evans
Evans is the leading manufacturer of pork rinds, serving US and international markets.  The company is vertically-integrated and manages various brands, as well as co-packing, private label and pellet sales.  Founded in 1947, the company is headquartered in Chicago.  Evans currently operates six production facilities (Chicago, IL; Arlington, TX; Portsmouth, OH; City of Industry, CA; Thomaston, GA; and Saltillo, Mexico).  For more information on Evans, please visit www.evansfood.com.

About Highlander Partners
Highlander Partners, L.P. is a Dallas-based private investment firm with over $2 billion of assets under management.  The firm focuses on making investments in businesses in targeted industries in which the principals of the firm have significant operating and investing experience, including basic manufacturing, food, chemicals, building materials, consumer products, and others.  Highlander Partners uses a “buy and build” investment approach, creating value by helping companies grow organically and through acquisitions. For more information, visit www.highlander-partners.com.

Founded in 1968 by speaker design pioneer Bruce Howze, Community Loudspeakers has a long history of speaker design innovation.  Today, Community is a well-established and respected manufacturer of a broad range of premium speakers targeting demanding indoor and outdoor applications including commercial, leisure, stadiums, and other large venues.  Apart Audio is a strong competitor in audio solutions for small and mid-size venues, offering a broad array of speakers as well as amplifiers, mixers, controllers, and paging stations to make Apart a single vendor solution for its markets.  Apart has a well-established business in Europe and only entered North America in 2018, a market in which Biamp’s extensive distribution system can provide an immediate boost.

Rashid Skaf, Biamp President, CEO, and co-Chairman commented, “I am tremendously excited to complete this transaction.  Building a comprehensive lineup of speakers has been a priority as we move to position Biamp as a full line provider of professional audiovisual solutions.  Acquiring Apart Audio and Community Loudspeakers was our preferred route to accomplishing this goal quickly with incredibly strong and respected brands.  The many products added to our portfolio give us powerful positions in several key growth markets for Biamp.  With this move, Biamp has clearly established itself as a leader in the pro AV market.”

The addition of Audioprof Group International comes just seven months after the company acquired Cambridge Sound Management, which made Biamp the world leader in sound masking systems.  Biamp now offers a wide range of audiovisual solutions that facilitate communication and collaboration in conference rooms, lecture halls, auditoria, hospitality, retail and outdoor venues, as well as paging and notification for open areas like offices, concourses, stadiums, retail centers, and casinos.

Highlander’s Ben Slater, Co-Chairman of Biamp, added, “When we acquired Biamp in November 2017, we set out on an ambitious path.  Using Biamp as a cornerstone, we aspired to become a complete-solution, global leader in the AV space.  Along with organic expansion, which has been significant under Rashid’s leadership, we are targeting strategic acquisitions to help us achieve this goal.  With its complementary suite of respected products and a strong international presence, Audioprof fits perfectly into this strategy.  In adding both Community and Apart, Biamp takes a significant step towards a full AV offering to end users across venues and geographies.  We proudly welcome the entire Audioprof team into the Biamp family.”

Lincoln International acted as financial advisor to Audioprof in the transaction.  Regions Bank led a group in providing senior financing facilities in support of the transaction.

About Biamp Systems

Biamp Systems is a leading provider of innovative, networked media systems that power the world’s most sophisticated audio/video installations. The company is recognized worldwide for delivering high-quality products and backing each one with a commitment to exceptional customer service.  Its broad, award-winning Biamp product suite can be customized and integrated in a wide range of applications, including corporate boardrooms, conference centers, huddle rooms, performing arts venues, courtrooms, hospitals, transportation hubs, campuses, and multi-building facilities.  For more information on Biamp, please visit www.biamp.com.  For more information on Apart Audio and Community Loudspeakers, please visit www.apart-audio.com and www.communitypro.com, respectively.

About Highlander Partners

Highlander Partners, L.P. is a Dallas-based private investment firm with approximately $2 billion of assets under management.  The firm focuses on making investments in businesses in targeted industries in which the principals of the firm have significant operating and investing experience.  Highlander Partners uses a “buy and build” investment approach, creating value by helping companies grow organically and through acquisitions. For more information, visit www.highlander-partners.com.

The founders of the business, Oren Iancovici and Iulian Plescan, will continue to serve in their Chief Executive Officer and Chief Development Officer roles, respectively.  In partnership with Dr. Iancovici, Mr. Plescan and the rest of the existing Ares team, Highlander intends to accelerate growth by introducing new facilities around the country while also enhancing capabilities at existing Ares facilities.  These efforts should significantly increase access to high-end interventional cardiology care for patients across Romania, which is currently limited.

Dr. Oren Iancovici, CEO and Founder of Ares, commented, “We believe that together with our new partners we will be strongly prepared to bring the business to the next level and expand our services to the entire country, while continuing to innovate in the field of endovascular medicine in Romania. Given the Highlander team’s extensive medical services investment expertise, we are convinced that we will have both a strong financial and strategic partner.”

Ben Slater, Director of Highlander Partners and Head of Highlander’s Romanian efforts, added, “We have spent two years assessing a variety of opportunities in Romania and are extremely pleased to announce our first investment in the country.  Ares possesses all the qualities that we have been seeking.  It is a market leading business led by an exceptional management team, participating in a space – private pay healthcare – that will become increasingly demanded as the Romanian economy continues to develop.”

Jeff Hull, President and CEO of Highlander Partners, added, “We are excited to combine Ares’ visionary founders with our local team, which has previously been deeply involved in several successful healthcare investments in Romania.  We see tremendous growth potential in Ares and are equally motivated by its social impact.”

RTPR Allen & Overy acted as legal counsel of Highlander Partners and TS Partners as financial and tax advisor, while Toacse, Iavolschi & Associates acted as a legal counsel and Contradiction as financial advisor to Centrele de Excelenta Ares.

About Centrele de Excelenta Ares 
Ares is the leader in the private interventional cardiology market in Romania, operating in five locations in Bucharest, Constanta and Cluj.  It collaborates with a highly trained and experienced medical team, formed of leaders in cardiology from Romania and across Europe. Along with interventional cardiology procedures, Ares Centers also perform interventional radiology procedures. For more information on Ares’ medical team and procedures, please visit: https://medicina-interventionala.ro/en/

About Highlander Partners, L.P.
Highlander is a Dallas-based private investment firm with approximately $2 billion of assets under management. The firm focuses on making investments in businesses in targeted industries in which the principals of the firm have significant operating and investing experience. Highlander Partners implements a “buy and build” investment approach, creating value by helping companies grow both organically and through acquisitions. For more information, visit www.highlander-partners.com