Katten represented Highlander Partners, a leading Dallas-based private investment firm, and its new food platform, Benestar Brands, in the new purchase of Evans Food Group, a top global producer of branded pork rinds, from Wind Point Partners. Over the past five years, Highlander has experienced rapid growth with over $2 billion in assets. Purchasing Evans Food Group, which produces pork rind brands such as "Mac's," which is considered the number one multi-outlet store pork rind brand in the U.S., provides Highlander with the opportunity to enhance its finances by expanding its growth in the food sector, specifically in the area of healthier, salty snacks.
"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," said Highlander President and CEO, Jeff Hull, in a recent news article about the acquisition that was shared on the company's blog.
The Katten Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) team featured Dallas Corporate partners Mark Solomon, Peter Bogdanow and Bill Rivers, Dallas Corporate associate Alison Krieser, New York Transactional Tax Planning partner Vicky Rosamond, Dallas Transactional Tax Planning special counsel Aaron Pinegar, Chicago Environmental and Workplace Safety partner Nancy Rich, New York Employment Law and Litigation partner Michelle Gyves, Washington, DC Intellectual Property partner Sean Wooden, and Chicago Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation associate Andrew Skowronski.
Katten's M&A practice offers merger and acquisition counseling and representation to various companies, from Fortune 500 to startups, every year. With a deep knowledge across industries, including health care, sports, education, manufacturing, real estate and media, and an understanding of M&A in both the public and private sectors, Katten offers M&A representation that is cost-effective and wide-ranging.
(“Highlander Partners Announces the Formation of Benestar Brands with the Acquisition of Evans Food Group from Wind Point Partners,” Highlander Partners, L.P., August 5, 2019.)
