SensoryEffects®, a Portfolio Company of Highlander Partners, Acquires the Dairy and Non-Dairy Creamer Business of Quality Ingredients Corporation

BRIDGETON, Mo., Sept. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- SensoryEffects announces it has acquired the dairy and non-dairy creamer business of Quality Ingredients Corporation (QIC).  SensoryEffects is a portfolio company of the Dallas-based private investment firm Highlander Partners, L.P.  Included in the acquisition are QIC's Marshfield, WI manufacturing site, a Filtermat spray dryer and other dry blending equipment, formulas, technology, trademarks and intellectual property.  In combination with the acquisition, SensoryEffects expanded its existing senior credit facility to $100 million.  With the divestment of its creamer business, QIC will focus solely on its growing contract manufacturing and specialty ingredients businesses.

Charles A. Nicolais, President and CEO of SensoryEffects said, "We are excited to further our ability to deliver customized food and beverage ingredients by expanding our spray drying capabilities, capacity and experience.  The Filtermat dryer will give us the ability to tailor products that meet our customers' increasing needs for high performance ingredient solutions.  The QIC emulsified powder business includes creamers, whipped toppings, vegetable shortenings and other specialty dairy and non-dairy products, which will be integrated into our SensoryEffects Powder Systems division.  We will now possess a broad range of spray drying capabilities across four production sites: Defiance, OH, Bridgeton, MO, Reading, PA, and now Marshfield, WI.  We welcome our new employees to SensoryEffects and look forward to serving our new customers."

Michael R. Nicolais, President of Highlander and Board Member of SensoryEffects, added, "The addition of Quality Ingredients' Marshfield manufacturing site marks a major milestone in the evolution of SensoryEffects.  It is the twelfth and largest acquisition to date for the platform, and solidifies SensoryEffects' leadership in the spray drying industry.  We remain excited about the growth opportunities for the business and continue to evaluate further potential acquisitions."

About Highlander Partners

Highlander Partners, L.P. is a Dallas-based private investment firm with partners that have committed over $500 million of principal funds for direct private equity investments in North America and Central Europe. The firm focuses on making investments in middle market businesses in targeted industries in which the principals of the firm have significant operating and investing experience, including basic manufacturing, food, building materials and others. Highlander Partners uses a "buy and build" investment approach, creating value by helping companies grow organically and through acquisitions.

For more information about Highlander Partners, please visit www.highlander-partners.com.

About SensoryEffects®

SensoryEffects is a supplier of customized food and beverage ingredients and products with three business units: SensoryEffects Powder Systems in Defiance, OH, Marshfield, WI, and Reading, PA, SensoryEffects Flavor Systems in Bridgeton, MO, and SensoryEffects Cereal Systems in Lincoln, NE.  Please contact Tiffany Pailer at [email protected] or visit www.sensoryeffects.com for more information.

SOURCE Highlander Partners, L.P.