Highlander Partners

Highlander Partners Sells Its Defense Technology Business, Dzyne Technologies, To Ondas

Jeff — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 21:01:54 +0000

Combination expands Ondas’ portfolio across multi-domain ISR, counter-UAS, precision strike, mission intelligence and autonomous systems for U.S. and allied defense customers

Together with World View, DZYNE will operate within Ondas Sentinel, a newly created business division that will strengthen Ondas’ U.S. defense portfolio

Transaction significantly strengthens Ondas’ financial profile, adding substantial revenue, positive EBITDA and expanded operating leverage

WEST PALM BEACH, FL / ACCESS Newswire / July 6, 2026 / Ondas Inc. (NASDAQ:ONDS) (“Ondas” or the “Company”), a leading provider of advanced autonomous systems and next-generation defense and security technologies and services, announced today it has acquired DZYNE Technologies, LLC (“DZYNE”). This acquisition establishes Ondas as a vanguard autonomous defense platform, uniting complementary capabilities across multi-domain ISR, counter-UAS, autonomous effects, aerial security, precision strike, autonomous logistics, and AI-enabled mission orchestration to rapidly meet the complex, evolving requirements of modern warfare. The acquisition is valued at $875.8 million and was financed through a cash and stock structure intended to align the incentives of DZYNE management and investors with Ondas’ stockholders. Greater than 50% of the stock consideration is subject to a six-month lock-up.

“The character of warfare is changing rapidly, and military advantage increasingly belongs to organizations capable of deploying autonomous systems at scale,” said Eric Brock, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ondas. “DZYNE brings exceptional technology, world-class engineering talent and mission-ready systems across long-endurance ISR, counter-UAS and autonomous effects. The combination with DZYNE accelerates Ondas’ build-out of the next-generation autonomous defense platform-not through a single breakthrough product, but by integrating complementary, mission-proven technologies into a scaled operating platform. Importantly, DZYNE significantly strengthens Ondas’ financial profile, adding substantial scale and revenue growth. DZYNE is EBITDA positive with a strong and growing margin profile, accelerating Ondas’ path towards profitable, long-term growth.”

DZYNE, a U.S.-based defense technology company recognized for its leadership in long-endurance autonomous aircraft, counter-drone systems and autonomous effects, brings Ondas an operationally mature business with established relationships across the U.S. defense community and allied customers, along with a reputation for moving quickly from prototyping into fielded systems. Ondas believes this combination of technical depth, mission experience, customer trust and operational execution makes DZYNE a uniquely valuable strategic asset as defense organizations accelerate investment in autonomous systems.

“We structured this transaction to take the majority of our consideration in Ondas equity because we believe in the long-term value of the combined platform,” said Jeff Hull, President and Chief Executive Officer of Highlander Partners, the majority owner of DZYNE. “As a firm that invests our own proprietary capital with a patient, long-term horizon, our equity position reflects genuine conviction – not just in DZYNE’s capabilities, but in Ondas’ vision to build a scaled global operating platform for unmanned and autonomous systems serving the defense, security, and critical infrastructure markets. DZYNE’s ISR, counter-UAS, and expendable systems are a natural extension of that architecture, and we believe DZYNE’s technology and team will thrive inside Ondas as part of its broader system-of-systems strategy – together positioned to be a leader in autonomous defense.”

“This acquisition exemplifies our Strategic Growth Program by adding an operationally mature defense technology company with market-leading products, deep customer relationships and immediate financial scale,” said Mark Green, Head of Global Corporate Development & M&A at Ondas. “Integrating DZYNE into our systems-of-systems architecture expands our technology leadership while strengthening our operating platform and financial profile.”

Ondas Sentinel: A New Operating Division for U.S. Scale

Ondas has formed Ondas Sentinel, a dedicated operating division unifying its growing U.S. portfolio of autonomous defense technologies. Initially intended to integrate World View and DZYNE, it combines persistent ISR, counter-UAS, autonomous effects and mission intelligence into a scalable organization built to support larger, more integrated defense programs while leveraging common technology roadmaps, manufacturing, sustainment and AI-enabled mission software.

Ryan Hartman, Chief Executive Officer of World View, will serve as Chief Executive Officer of Ondas Sentinel, while Matt McCue, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of DZYNE, will become Chief Technology Officer of Ondas Sentinel. Together, they will lead the integration of the businesses and accelerate Ondas’ strategy to deliver integrated autonomous defense solutions at scale.

“Ondas Sentinel creates far more than an organizational structure-it’s a scalable U.S. defense platform,” said Ryan Hartman, Chief Executive Officer of Ondas Sentinel. “By combining World View’s persistent sensing with DZYNE’s mission-proven autonomous systems, effectors, and counter-UAS capabilities, we can engage customers across more mission areas, pursue larger programs and help operators see more, decide faster and act with confidence.”

Compelling Strategic Fit Accelerates Combined Growth Path

DZYNE adds three strategic franchises to the Ondas platform: long-endurance ISR, counter-UAS and autonomous effects. These capabilities have been supported by over $500 million of cumulative R&D and product development investment and directly address several of the fastest-growing priorities in defense modernization, including persistent intelligence, aerial security, affordable mass and distributed operations.

1) Building a Multi-Domain ISR Architecture from the Stratosphere to the Tactical Edge

The acquisition of DZYNE significantly advances Ondas’ multi-domain ISR roadmap, reflecting the Company’s belief that the future of ISR lies in integrated architectures, not isolated aircraft or sensors.

DZYNE’s ULTRA is a long-endurance autonomous aircraft delivering multi-day ISR across large operational areas at significantly lower operating cost and logistical burden than traditional ISR aircraft. With tens of thousands of operational flight hours, ULTRA brings proven persistence to distributed operations, border security, maritime awareness and communications relay-strengthening Ondas’ position in persistent intelligence and bridging World View’s stratospheric sensing with Optimus’ tactical-edge autonomous operations.

The combined Ondas ISR portfolio is expected to span:

Stratospheric ISR: World View’s Stratollites provide persistent sensing, communications relay and strategic intelligence capabilities from the stratosphere, supporting wide-area surveillance, maritime awareness, border security and resilient communications.

Long-Endurance Theater ISR: DZYNE’s ULTRA and LEAP platforms provide long-endurance intelligence collection, reconnaissance and communications relay capabilities for operational theater missions requiring persistence over extended periods.

Tactical ISR: Ondas’ Optimus autonomous drone platform and InsightSense ground sensor technologies provide persistent intelligence and situational awareness at the tactical edge, combining autonomous aerial reconnaissance, distributed ground sensing, force protection and infrastructure monitoring into a unified tactical intelligence layer.

Ondas is also advancing SkyWeaver, an AI-enabled mission operating system being developed in partnership with Palantir Technologies to connect sensors, autonomous platforms, operators and decision-makers across a single operational environment. Built on Palantir Foundry and AIP, SkyWeaver transforms data across the Ondas and DZYNE portfolios into actionable intelligence for sensor fusion, decision support, mission planning and autonomous tasking.

2) IonStrike Completes Ondas’ Counter-UAS and Aerial Security Portfolio

DZYNE’s IonStrike significantly expands Ondas’ counter-UAS portfolio with a fully kinetic, autonomous interceptor designed to detect, track and physically defeat hostile drones in flight. Purpose-built to counter the Shahed-136 class of one-way attack drones and other emerging aerial threats, IonStrike delivers scalable, low-cost interception at the point of engagement, providing an affordable alternative to traditional air defense systems.

IonStrike extends Ondas’ aerial security platform beyond detection and mitigation to complete the kinetic defeat layer of an integrated counter-UAS architecture, enabling Ondas to own the full mission chain-from detection and identification to mitigation, interception and defeat-across military, homeland security and civil markets. Together with DZYNE’s Dronebuster, which we believe to be one of the most widely fielded handheld counter-UAS systems in the world, Sentrycs’ cyber-based detection and mitigation, and Iron Drone’s autonomous interception, IonStrike forms a layered aerial security architecture against evolving unmanned threats:

Detect: Sentrycs, Dronebuster and integrated airspace awareness technologies

Identify: Sentrycs protocol analytics, sensor fusion and AI-enabled classification

Mitigate: Sentrycs cyber takeover capabilities and Dronebuster electronic defeat capabilities

Defeat: Iron Drone autonomous net interception and IonStrike autonomous strike

3) Expanding Capabilities in Precision Strike and Autonomous Effects

DZYNE’s family of unique, low-cost, attritable autonomous systems enables Ondas to support a broader spectrum of missions spanning intelligence, force protection, logistics, and precision effects. As militaries shift toward “affordable mass,” launched effects have been one of the fastest-growing segments of global defense spending, giving commanders scalable, expendable systems at a fraction of the cost of traditional platforms.

DZYNE’s portfolio includes the Blitz autonomous Group 1 UAS and Grasshopper autonomous cargo glider. Blitz pairs long-range autonomy, (150 km range), expendable economics, swarm capabilities and an open, modular architecture into a highly scalable platform aligned with the U.S. Department of War’s (DOW) focus on affordable mass and autonomous effects. Grasshopper delivers up to 500 pounds of critical supplies with precision into contested or denied environments, at a fraction of the cost of traditional logistics platforms.

Financial Profile and Updated Outlook

DZYNE is expected to generate $191 million in revenue for the full year 2026, and more than $300 million in 2027. The Company expects a revenue growth CAGR of greater than 80% from 2025-2028 driven by strong adoption of both the ULTRA platform for long-endurance ISR applications and the kinetic interceptor solution, IonStrike, along with a strong contribution from the counter-drone portfolio, including Dronebuster. DZYNE is expected to be EBITDA positive in 2026 and beyond. EBITDA margins are targeted in the mid-teens in 2027, rising to the mid-20% range by 2028.

For 2026 Ondas is now targeting at least $525 million in revenue, significantly ahead of the Company’s previous target of at least $390 million. The new outlook includes the addition of both DZYNE and the Company’s Omnisys acquisition, which closed on May 21, 2026, and was not contemplated in the prior outlook. Ondas’ new outlook does not include contributions from Cyberhawk, Ondas’ recently announced acquisition that is expected to close during the third quarter of 2026.

Transaction Summary

Under the terms of the transaction, DZYNE shareholders received $200 million in cash and approximately 85 million Ondas shares valued at approximately $675 million. The DZYNE shareholders, led by Highlander, will own approximately 13.8% of Ondas’ outstanding shares. Of the 85 million shares, 45 million-more than half the equity consideration-are subject to a six-month lock-up. Ondas believes this structure balances liquidity needs for DZYNE shareholders and long-term alignment with Ondas’ stockholders.

For additional information regarding the acquisition, please see the Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission later today. In connection with the acquisition, the Company approved inducement grants of restricted stock units (RSUs) representing 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock and stock options exercisable for 1,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock with an exercise price of $7.92 per share to a total of 255 newly-hired employees in connection with the acquisition. The equity awards were granted pursuant to the Nasdaq Rule 5635(c)(4) inducement grant exception as a component of each individual’s employment compensation and were granted as an inducement material to his or her acceptance of employment with the Company. The RSUs and the stock options vest over 3 years, subject to the applicable employee’s continued employment with the Company.

Advisors

Citizens Capital Markets & Advisory served as exclusive financial advisor to Ondas and Baird served as exclusive financial advisor to DZYNE Technologies. Akerman LLP served as legal counsel to Ondas and Baker McKenzie served as legal counsel to Highlander Partners and DZYNE Technologies.

Investor Conference Call & Audio Webcast Details

Ondas will host an investor conference call and audio webcast to discuss the acquisition, the formation of Ondas Sentinel, and the strategic importance of the transaction to the Company’s long-term autonomous defense strategy.

Date: Monday, July 6, 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time
Toll-free dial-in number: 844-883-3907
International dial-in number: 412-317-5798
Call participant pre-registration link: here

The Company encourages listeners to pre-register, which allows callers to gain immediate access and bypass the live operator. Please note that you can register at any time during the call. For those who choose not to pre-register, please call the conference telephone number 10-15 minutes prior to the start time, at which time an operator will register your name and organization.

The conference call will also be broadcast live and available for replay here and via the investor relations section of the Company’s website at ir.ondas.com. A replay will be accessible from the investor relations website after completion of the event.

About Ondas Inc.

Ondas Inc. (NASDAQ:ONDS) is a leading provider of autonomous systems, robotics, and mission-critical technologies for defense, homeland security, public safety, critical infrastructure, and industrial markets. The Company develops and deploys integrated unmanned and autonomous platforms across air, ground, and stratospheric environments, designed to support intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, security, and operational missions in complex environments. Ondas’ solutions are deployed globally by government, defense, and commercial customers to protect infrastructure, borders, transportation networks, personnel, and strategic assets.

For additional information on Ondas Inc., visit www.ondas.com.

About DZYNE Technologies, LLC

DZYNE Technologies is a leading developer of autonomous aerial systems and advanced defense technologies, delivering innovative solutions across intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and counter-UAS missions. The company designs and manufactures a full ecosystem of unmanned platforms and payloads-including long-endurance Group 2/3 aircraft, rapid-deployment Group 1 systems, and field-proven counter-drone tools-built to operate in contested and denied environments. With deep expertise in AI-enabled autonomy, modular airframe design, and rapid prototyping, DZYNE supports U.S. and allied defense customers with scalable, mission-ready capabilities that accelerate decision advantage at the tactical edge.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements made in this release that are not statements of historical or current facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution readers that forward-looking statements are predictions based on our current expectations about future events. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Our actual results, performance, or achievements could differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including the risks discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” discussed under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part I of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or any updates discussed under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part II of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in our other filings with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise that occur after that date, except as required by law.

Contacts

IR Contact for Ondas Inc.

888-657-2377

ir@ondas.com

Media Contact for Ondas Inc.

Escalate PR

ondas@escalatepr.com

Preston Grimes

Marketing Manager, Ondas Inc

preston.grimes@ondas.com

Jill Vacek

Director of Communications, Ondas Sentinel

jvacek@worldview.space

SOURCE: Ondas Inc.

MONZA-ARES and Brain Institute merge to form one of Romania’s leading private hospital operators

Jeff — Tue, 26 May 2026 16:47:25 +0000

May 26, 2026 – Bucharest, Romania – MONZA-ARES, a leading Romanian private hospital group focused on cardiology and complex surgery, and Brain Institute, the country’s premier private neurosurgery center, today announced they are combining operations to create one of Romania’s leading private healthcare platforms. The joint group is backed by U.S.-based private equity firm Highlander Partners and will focus on complex surgical procedures and high-acuity care across cardiology, neurosurgery, ENT, orthopedics, thoracic surgery, general surgery, gynecology and related specialties.

Following the merger, the MONZA-ARES Group will integrate and capitalize on the Brain Institute expertise, teams and shareholders to continue its rapid growth and market consolidation as a platform for high-quality, high-complexity medicine, anchored in a national network serving patients with chronic and complex conditions. In addition to its flagship Monza Hospital in Bucharest — one of the leading private complex-surgery hospitals in Romania — the Group operates facilities in Cluj-Napoca, Constanța, Tulcea, Onești and Târgu Jiu, with plans for further geographical expansion of its hospitals, polyclinics and dental clinics.

“In 2023, together with our partners from MONZA-ARES, we acquired the operations of our host hospital, Monza Hospital — a significant milestone in our accelerated development. The merger signed today is the natural next step in bringing Brain Institute together with the MONZA-ARES Group. We are confident that this merger will strengthen Monza Hospital’s operations and enable us to further accelerate investments in technology and deliver high-quality, innovative care,” said Sergiu Stoica, MD, Head of brain neurosurgery and main shareholder of Brain Institute.

“We are excited to bring together MONZA-ARES and Brain Institute — two private operators dedicated to medical innovation that have delivered numerous medical breakthroughs within the Romanian healthcare system. With the continued support of our American investors, the MONZA-ARES Group will expand beyond ARES’s original cardiology focus into fields such as brain and spinal neurosurgery, ENT, pediatric orthopedics and general surgery. We are also pleased that many doctors from our combined teams have chosen to become shareholders as part of this merger — a testament to their confidence in our growth prospects and a privilege for the management team to welcome them into our shareholding structure,” added Geanina Durigu, MD, CEO of the MONZA-ARES Group.

“The flagship hospital of the MONZA-ARES Group is entering a new, synergistic phase of development, reuniting two strong medical and administrative teams within what was historically a single hospital — now returning to unified management. We now have the combined capacity to more than double our hospital operations over the next 3 to 5 years, as well as the backing of our investors to further enhance Monza Hospital’s capabilities and establish it as a reference center for complex surgery in Central and Eastern Europe,” said Adrian Demusca, General Manager of Monza Hospital.

“We see this merger as a step-change in our development, both in scale and in medical complexity capability. We are honored that a significant number of doctors have become shareholders in the MONZA-ARES Group, and we are set on a strong growth trajectory — supported by the kind of physician-shareholder team that any healthcare investor would aspire to have,” said Adrian Stroilescu, MD, CO-Managing Partner of Highlander Partners in Romania.
The transaction was supported by the following advisors: for MONZA-ARES — legal advisor RTPR, financial advisor TS Partners, tax advisor Contradiction and valuation advisor Quest Partners; for Brain Institute — legal advisor Mittel & Associates, and tax advisor Tax House. Raiffeisen Bank, the financing bank of the MONZA-ARES Group, arranged the financing for this transaction.

About Highlander Partners
Highlander Partners, L.P. is a Dallas-based private investment firm with more than $3 billion in 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 employs a buy and build investment approach, creating value by helping companies grow both organically and through acquisitions. Additional information about Highlander at www.highlander-partners.com.

About Brain Institute
Brain Institute is a modern neurosurgery center established in 2013 in partnership with Monza Hospital, under the coordination of Sergiu Stoica – MD, senior neurosurgeon. Over more than a decade of activity, Brain Institute has built a strong team of doctors specializing in neurology, neurosurgery, ENT and pediatric orthopedics, who perform complex, minimally invasive interventions.

About MONZA ARES
MONZA ARES is the largest private national network specialized in cardiology, offering therapeutic solutions in microinvasive cardiology through cardiovascular surgery and interventional cardiology. The group owns 7 centers in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Constanța, Târgu Jiu, Tulcea and Onești, as well as 3 multidisciplinary clinics, with a focus on cardiology, in Cluj-Napoca. The MONZA ARES Group has been majority-owned, since 2019, by U.S.-based private equity firm Highlander Partners.

Highlander Partners Acquires Iconic Hot Sauce Brand, Tapatio

Jeff — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 17:01:38 +0000

January 20, 2026 – Dallas, TX – Highlander Partners, L.P. (“Highlander”), a Dallas-based private investment firm, today announced the acquisition of Tapatio (“Tapatio” or the “Company”), the #5 hot sauce brand in the U.S. with authenticity that resonates across mainstream and Hispanic consumers, from the Saavedra family. The Arnold Companies also invested a significant minority equity position along with Highlander, and the Saavedra family will retain a minority position in Tapatio post-closing.

Tapatío^® is a beloved hot sauce brand that has been bringing a flavorful kick to dishes since 1971. Founded in California by Jose-Luis Saavedra Sr., Tapatío^® is named after the term used to describe someone from Guadalajara, Mexico, reflecting its deep connection to traditional Mexican flavors. Known for its perfect balance of medium heat and rich, tangy flavor, Tapatío® is crafted from a blend of red peppers and spices. It’s a versatile condiment, commonly used to enhance everything from Mexican cuisine to eggs, soups, and more.

Tapatio has built a trusted, authentic brand within the growing hot sauce category. Tapatio’s products have developed a large, loyal following in the Western U.S., where its customers include big-box retailers, supermarkets, restaurant chains, and other retail outlets. With Highlander’s investment and partnership, the Company plans to extend its reach into nascent geographies, broaden its distribution channels, bolster new product development and enter complementary new product categories.

“We are excited to partner with Tapatio, a generational business that is distinguished by a strong, authentic brand in the fast growing hot sauce category. We believe that Tapatio is poised to benefit from several secular trends that are dramatically reshaping consumer food choices, and we look to take advantage of the brand’s significant whitespace opportunity,” said Jeff L. Hull, President and CEO of Highlander Partners.

“It is both a privilege and an immense responsibility for Highlander to be the next steward of the Tapatio brand,” said Jeff Partridge, Partner at Highlander. “We share the Saavedra family’s vision to maintain the brand’s legacy as we carefully and purposefully target opportunities to grow the brand geographically, introduce new flavors and products, and deepen penetration in both the retail and foodservice channels.”

Luis Saavedra Jr., former CEO for Tapatio stated, “Highlander is a perfect fit given their extensive background in the branded Hispanic food category, and we are pleased to have a partner that invests their own capital and takes a long-term strategic approach to growing companies. Tapatio has a strong business with a proud heritage and identity. Highlander shares our vision to maintain this legacy.”

Stout served as exclusive financial advisor to Tapatio on the transaction. J.P. Morgan led the senior financing facilities, and NMP Capital provided both financing and equity in support of the transaction. Katten served as legal advisor to Highlander.

About Tapatío
Tapatío^® is a beloved hot sauce brand that has been bringing a flavorful kick to dishes since 1971. Founded in California by Jose-Luis Saavedra Sr., Tapatío® is named after the term used to describe someone from Guadalajara, Mexico, reflecting its deep connection to traditional Mexican flavors. Known for its perfect balance of medium heat and rich, tangy flavor, Tapatío® is crafted from a blend of red peppers, vinegar, garlic, and spices. It’s a versatile condiment, commonly used to enhance everything from Mexican cuisine to eggs, soups, and more. For more information, visit. For more information, visit www.tapatiohotsauce.com.

NiTEO Products, a Portfolio Company of Highlander Partners, Acquires Faultless Brands

Jeff — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 16:40:38 +0000

December 10, 2025 – Dallas, TX – NiTEO Products, a leading formulator, packager and marketer of household and automotive chemical brands, today announced the acquisition of Faultless Brands (“Faultless”) from Architect Equity. Faultless, based in Kansas City, Missouri, for over 138 years, is the leading manufacturer of category defining brands to the household products industry. These brands include Faultless, Niagara and Magic, which are the market share leaders in fabric care, and Bon Ami, a scratch-free powder cleanser known for its ability to clean without harsh chemicals.

The transaction supports NiTEO’s strategic objective of building and growing a portfolio of high efficacy, branded household and automotive products. The Faultless acquisition will expand NiTEO’s Household Products division and further enhance its position as a leading branded products business serving the home care market.

John Rabenhorst, NiTEO CEO and a Highlander Principal, stated, “We are excited to combine such an iconic portfolio of brands into NiTEO to accelerate our success as a leader within household products. Faultless, Niagara, Magic, and Bon Ami are highly recognizable, efficacious products that are top performers in their respective categories. We are looking forward to building upon the 138-year-old heritage of the portfolio and continuing to take these brands to new heights.”

Jeff L. Hull, Highlander President and CEO, said, “This acquisition reconfirms our strategy of executing strategic add-on acquisitions that enhance and expand NiTEO’s existing business and branded product offerings in the home care segment. Building a house of brands within the household category to complement our automotive products will allow us to enhance existing NiTEO relationships and unlock additional revenue opportunities for our existing brands. We are continuing to evaluate M&A opportunities and expect to make additional acquisitions going forward.”

Canaccord Genuity served as exclusive financial advisor to Faultless Brands in the transaction. Monroe Capital LLC provided senior financing facilities and NMP Capital provided mezzanine debt and equity in support of the transaction.

About Faultless Brands
Faultless Brands is a collection of consumer products and brands encompassing fabric care, household cleaning, and commercial laundry products. Made in the USA, the Faultless and Niagara starch brands and Bon Ami Cleanser have rich heritages and remain top sellers in today’s competitive market. Other Faultless brands include Magic and Kleen King. The company was founded in 1887 and is based in Kansas City, Missouri. For more information, visit www.faultlessbrands.com.

About NiTEO
NiTEO is a premier formulator, packager and marketer of highly regarded household and automotive appearance and performance/maintenance chemical brands. These include APF in the car wash category; CarBrite in the professional appearance category; and the Pyroil, Motor Medic and Cyclo brands in the automotive maintenance and performance category, and OZIUM in the household air care category. For more information, visit www.niteoproducts.com.

NiTEO Products, a Portfolio Company of Highlander Partners, Acquires Folex

Jeff — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 21:32:05 +0000

December 4, 2025 – Dallas, TX – NiTEO Products, a leading formulator, packager and marketer of household and automotive chemical brands, today announced the acquisition of Folexport, Inc. (“Folex”) from Barrett and Patty Lash. Folex, founded in 1966 and based in Tualatin, Oregon, is a leading manufacturer and provider of cleaning products for carpets, fabrics, and hard surfaces. FOLEX® primarily sells through retailers including Target, Home Depot, and Lowes, and enjoys a cult-like following from consumers given the category-defining efficacious nature of its products. FOLEX® offers a range of products, including instant carpet spot removers, hardwood, laminate, and tile floor cleaners, and stain removers.

The transaction supports NiTEO’s strategic objective of building and growing a portfolio of high efficacy, branded household and automotive products. The Folex acquisition will expand NiTEO’s Household Products division and further enhance its position as a leading branded products business serving the home care market.

John Rabenhorst, NiTEO’s CEO, stated, “We believe the addition of FOLEX® in the cleaning products space is highly strategic and complementary to Niteo’s existing home care offerings and gives us access to a strong line of well-regarded products that will bolster Niteo’s breadth in the category. We are excited to leverage the full Niteo portfolio of brands for the benefit of our retail partners and believe there is substantial growth potential within our branded household products portfolio.”

Jeff L. Hull, Highlander President and CEO, said, “The addition of FOLEX® to our growing family of brands further reinforces our strategy to build a leading business composed of category-defining, high efficacy brands in the home care segment. We thank Barrett and Patty Lash for their trust as the next steward of this brand, and we intend to get FOLEX® into the homes of more consumers. We continue to evaluate numerous other potential transactions and expect to close additional acquisitions in the future.”

Monroe Capital LLC provided senior financing facilities and NMP Capital provided mezzanine debt and equity in support of the transaction.

About Folex
Folex, founded in 1966 and based in Tualatin, Oregon, is a leading manufacturer and provider of cleaning products for carpets, fabrics, and hard surfaces. FOLEX® offers a range of products, including instant carpet spot removers, hardwood, laminate, and tile floor cleaners, and stain removers. The company also offers a professional line of cleaning solutions. For more information, visit www.folexcompany.com.

Highlander Partners Acquires Juvenile Products Leader Ergobaby

Jeff — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 14:29:38 +0000

December 30, 2024 – Dallas, TX – Highlander Partners, L.P. (“Highlander”), a Dallas-based private investment firm, today announced the acquisition of The Ergo Baby Carrier, Inc., (“Ergobaby” or the “Company”) from Compass Diversified (NYSE: CODI). Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Ergobaby is the global market leader in premium baby carriers. The Company’s ergonomically designed products provide the ultimate in comfort and ergonomics for both the baby and the caregiver. Through its global workforce of 170 employees, Ergobaby reaches customers across more than 1,800 retail doors and maintains distribution in over 75 countries.

Ergobaby’s premium brand portfolio includes three distinct market leaders:

Ergobaby: The flagship brand that has become synonymous with premium baby carriers;
Tula: Known for functional carriers featuring expressive prints, inclusive sizing, and artisan craftsmanship; and
Belly Bandit: A solutions-focused maternity and postpartum brand providing solutions during pregnancy, post-partum recovery and while nursing.

The Company’s comprehensive product line includes ergonomically designed baby carriers, wraps, strollers, bouncers, highchairs, maternity and post-partum support bands and apparel, and feeding, sleep and nursing accessories. The Company’s product line is designed to support parents and babies through every stage of pregnancy and early development.

Jeff L. Hull, President and CEO of Highlander Partners commented, “This acquisition further emphasizes Highlander’s focus on investing in category-leading branded consumer product companies. As the #1 baby carrier brand globally, Ergobaby has tremendous growth opportunities driven by product innovation, market expansion and increased consumer awareness. In addition, we have a strong track record of implementing a “buy and build” approach with our investments and we see significant M&A opportunities that would complement Ergobaby’s parenting solutions portfolio and business strategy to better serve its customers in the broader juvenile products market.”

Jason Frame, CEO of Ergobaby, added, “We are excited about the new partnership with Highlander and will benefit from their expertise within branded consumer products. The management team is energized, and our pipeline is full of new opportunities. Our brands enjoy exceptional consumer awareness, and we are well positioned to continue our historical success in the foreseeable future.”

Robert W. Baird & Co acted as exclusive financial advisor and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP acted as legal counsel to CODI. Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP acted as legal counsel to Highlander.

About Ergobaby
Founded by a mother in 2003, Ergobaby was built with the belief that there’s magic in every little parenting triumph, even during the not-so-joyful jobs of raising your little one. Through award-winning baby carriers, strollers, bouncers, and more, Ergobaby is committed to providing parents with the foundation to thrive with products that are engineered for comfort and ease. For more information visit www.ergobaby.com.

Highlander Partners Announces the Sale of McIntosh Group to Bose Corporation

Jeff — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 16:42:32 +0000

November 19, 2024 – Dallas, TX – Highlander Partners, L.P. (“Highlander”), a Dallas-based private investment firm, today announced the sale of its portfolio company, McIntosh Group (“The Group” or “the Company”) to Bose Corporation (“Bose”).

Highlander acquired the Company in June 2022. McIntosh Group is the parent company of the iconic high-performance and luxury audio brands, McIntosh and Sonus faber. McIntosh, headquartered in Binghamton, New York, was founded in 1949, while Sonus faber, founded in 1983, is headquartered in Vicenza, Italy. The transaction was consummated on November 15, 2024.

The McIntosh Group has been a global leader in high-end audio equipment for decades and today manufactures the world’s finest amplifiers, speakers, turntables and other audio products under several renowned brands that include McIntosh, Sonus faber and Sumiko Phono Cartridges. They are driven by their dedication to quality performance, sophisticated technology, refined design, and artisan manufacturing, and that’s resulted in delivering products known for incomparable design, product quality and consumer experiences.

Jeff L. Hull, President and CEO of Highlander Partners commented, “McIntosh is a legendary American brand, and Sonus faber is the definition of fine art in the audio world. We are honored to have been stewards of these businesses. We are proud of what we accomplished and believe McIntosh and Sonus faber have tremendous growth potential. We are excited to watch these brands reach new heights under Bose’s ownership.”

Hull added, “I would like to thank Dan Pidgeon (CEO, McIntosh Group) and Charlie Randall (President, McIntosh), and the entire team for being incredible partners over our ownership period. Their leadership has allowed the Company to continue to flourish and I wish all of them the best in their next phase of success.”

Katten acted as Highlander’s legal counsel in connection with the transaction and Adacta served as legal and tax advisors in Italy.

SFERRA, a Portfolio Company of Highlander Partners, Acquires Antica Farmacista

Jeff — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 16:17:19 +0000

August 30, 2024 – Dallas, TX – SFERRA Fine Linens, a leading multi-branded luxury linens and home lifestyle holding company, operating under the SFERRA and Pratesi brands, owned by Highlander Partners, today announced the acquisition of Antica Farmacista. Antica Farmacista, founded in 2003, is a luxury home and body fragrance brand with an Italian ethos. It was the first brand to introduce the home ambiance diffuser to the US market. Antica Farmacista sells its products nationwide through multiple channels, including e-commerce, boutiques and department stores, and its offerings are also displayed in some of the world’s most beautiful hotels, including Hotel Bel-Air and Ritz-Carltons. Antica Farmacista’s operations will continue to be conducted from Seattle, Washington, and its employees, including founders Shelley Callaghan and Susanne Pruitt, will join the SFERRA team.

The transaction supports SFERRA’s stated strategic objective of delivering fine craftsmanship and innovation into every room of the home and further expanding into adjacent product segments via selective brand acquisition to enhance its offering to better serve its global base of loyal, discerning customers.

“We believe the addition of Antica Farmacista is highly strategic and complementary to SFERRA’s existing luxury home offerings,” said Michelle Klein, President and CEO of SFERRA. “The acquisition will enhance SFERRA’s breadth in the home fragrance category and strengthen our offering across all channels to better serve our customer base. We are excited to work with Antica Farmacista co-owners Shelley Callaghan and Susanne Pruitt and their team to continue to innovate and grow the business.”

Jeff L. Hull, President and CEO of Highlander, and Chairman of SFERRA, commented, “The acquisition of Antica Farmacista reiterates Highlander’s focus on our Italian luxury branded platform strategy, representing an opportunity for us to acquire a complementary, established luxury brand in the innovative and fast-growing home fragrance category with a differentiated product offering and artfully composed fragrances. We will continue to grow our offerings and reach under the SFERRA, Pratesi and Antica Farmacista brands and will continue to implement a selective “buy-and-build” investment approach through complementary M&A efforts in the luxury home goods category.”

About SFERRA
SFERRA is an Italian luxury lifestyle brand established in 1891 by founder Gennaro Sferra, who created the brand dedicated to impeccable artistry and tailoring. Most recently, in addition to luxury bedding products and accessories, the company has expanded its offerings to include mattresses, accessories for the table, and home and décor gifts. SFERRA’s products are found in major department stores, more than 700 luxury specialty home stores, and boutique hotels and resorts. For more information on SFERRA, please visit sferra.com.

About Pratesi
Pratesi, founded in 1906 in Florence, Italy, is renowned for its unwavering commitment to craftsmanship, iconic elegance, and linens that embody Italian luxury living. For more information on Pratesi, please visit pratesi.com.

About Antica Farmacista
Antica Farmacista, founded in 2003, is a luxury home fragrance brand based in Seattle. Its product offering includes both home fragrance, as well as bath and body products. The Company produces reed and crystal diffusers, room sprays, candles, decorative accessories, and body washes/lotions and perfumes in a variety of fragrances. For more information on Antica Farmacista, please visit anticafarmacista.com.

High Point Aerotechnologies, a Highlander Partners Portfolio Company, Announces the Acquisition of Flex Force Enterprises

Jeff — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 16:37:54 +0000

Flex Force represents Highlander’s third acquisition in the counter-UAS technologies space and adds a unique and proven portable drone defense capability to High Point Aerotechnologies.

February 20, 2024 – Boise, ID – High Point Aerotechnologies (“High Point”), a portfolio company of Highlander Partners, today announced the acquisition of Portland, Oregon-based Flex Force Enterprises (“Flex Force”). Flex Force is a pioneer in drone defeat and countermeasure technologies and makes the widely known Dronebuster counter-unmanned aircraft system (c-UAS) jammer. This strategic acquisition expands High Point’s extensive arsenal of drone mitigation solutions and reinforces its position at the forefront of the rapidly growing drone security market.

Since 2016, Flex Force has delivered innovative drone defense and remote and stabilized weapons solutions for governments around the world. Its novel technologies in robotics, signal processing, and software are used by law enforcement agencies, military organizations, and private security companies globally. The Dronebuster – a compact, lightweight and cost-effective counter-drone tool – is the most widely deployed handheld system in the world and adds another configuration to High Point’s robust product family.

“The acquisition of Flex Force underscores our unwavering commitment to empowering our clients with the full array of cutting-edge technologies, ensuring they defend with confidence,” stated Al White, CEO of High Point. “A variety of layered defense solutions is required to address the drone threats of today and tomorrow, and I am looking forward to what our teams will build together.”

“We are incredibly excited to join forces with High Point,” said Jacob Sullivan, Flex Force Founder and CEO. “U.S. and allied governments have deployed our solutions around the globe for years to defend their most critical assets. As the threat posed by drones expands beyond armed conflict, we look forward to continuing to develop cost-effective and innovative solutions for our partners.”

Ben Slater, Chairman of High Point Aerotechnologies commented, “This acquisition demonstrates our continued commitment to developing a leading presence across the UAS and c-UAS markets. Flex Force, with its highly innovative approach to drone defense and strong partnerships across the military and security industries, will be a key asset to our efforts for years to come.”

Slater added, “As the global field of defense technology continues to accelerate rapidly, we are committed to advancing the capabilities of the United States and its allies with a focus on interoperable, attritable solutions and scaled manufacturing across a growing offering of UAS, c-UAS and software/AI products.”

About High Point Aerotechnologies
High Point Aerotechnologies is a global leader in counter-uncrewed autonomous systems (CUxS) solution development across air, land, and maritime domains. Its innovative physical solutions and DefenseOS open architecture software environment enable operations at machine speed to detect, identify, track and defeat UAS and other conventional and autonomous threats. High Point offers an array of integrated, interoperable solutions to provide fixed, mobile, and distributed CUxS capabilities for civilian, military and critical infrastructure clients. High Point has active solutions deployed in more than 15 countries worldwide. Learn more at highpointaerotech.com.

Highlander Partners Announces Sale of Its Portfolio Company, FDL, to ADM

Jeff — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 06:31:06 +0000

February 19, 2024 – Dallas, TX – Fuerst Day Lawson Limited (“FDL”), a portfolio company of Highlander Partners, L.P., completed the previously announced sale to ADM (NYSE: ADM), a premier global human and animal nutrition company. FDL, founded in 1884 and headquartered in London, is a leading ingredient solutions provider, specialized in the rapid development, formulation and manufacture of natural taste and nutrition solutions for applications across multiple product types and global end-markets. It offers custom flavors, syrups and sauces, fruit preps, juices and juice blends, botanical extracts, bakery ingredients, energy and fortification blends and aroma chemicals, backed by deep applications development expertise. FDL serves a global customer base with a presence in Europe, US, and Asia.

Founded in 1902, ADM today is one of the world’s largest agricultural supply chain managers and a premier human and animal nutrition provider, offering an unparalleled pantry of ingredients and solutions to meet customer needs for taste, texture, nutrition, and functionality.

Jeff L. Hull, President and CEO of Highlander and FDL board member, stated, “We believe that we accomplished an enormous amount during our ownership tenure and are very happy to see the FDL team become part of ADM, as the combination is a perfect fit and will allow this business to reach another level.”

Rothschild & Co. served as financial advisor and DLA Piper UK LLP as legal counsel for FDL.

About Fuerst Day Lawson (FDL)
FDL, founded in 1884 and headquartered in London, UK, is a formulator, developer and manufacturer of proprietary taste and nutrition ingredient solutions serving food, beverage, confections and other consumer markets. It offers custom flavors, syrups and sauces, fruit preps, juices and juice blends, botanical extracts, bakery ingredients, energy and fortification blends and aroma chemicals, backed by deep applications development expertise. FDL serves a global customer base with operations in Europe, US and Asia. For more information about FDL, please visit www.fdlworld.com.

About Highlander Partners
HHighlander Partners, L.P. is a Dallas-based private investment firm with more than $3 billion in 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 employs a buy and build investment approach, creating value by helping companies grow both organically and through acquisitions. Additional information about Highlander at www.highlander-partners.com.