Highlander Partners LP, a Dallas-based private investment firm with approximately $3 billion of assets under management, has purchased Liteye Systems Inc., a defense company that develops, integrates and manufactures Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS or Counter-UAS) designed to neutralize hostile drone threats.
Founded in 2000 with a focus on selling thermal cameras and head-mounted displays to military and law enforcement agencies, Liteye shifted its focus to C-UAS technologies in 2015. The company manufactures and integrates C-UAS systems that detect, identify, track and disrupt hostile, unmanned aircrafts. According to Highlander Partners, increased drone activity has created a need for C-UAS systems and services to protect against threats to people and civilian and military infrastructure, and to conduct military and national security operations.
“The Liteye executive team is thrilled to join forces with Highlander to continue the growth of our multi-mission C-UAS platforms, built around protecting lives and critical infrastructure,” states Kenneth Geyer and Tom Scott, co-founders of Liteye. “We feel that the need for advanced C-UAS is more pressing than ever, and we believe that High Point and the broader Highlander team bring the necessary government and military relationships, industry experience, and long-term financial approach to support us in driving Liteye and the C-UAS industry forward.”
The Forbes M+A Group acted as financial advisor and Holland & Hart LLP served as legal counsel to Liteye. Highlander was represented by Baker McKenzie as legal counsel.