Cleveland — Germany-based Stedman GmbH, a designer, manufacturer and supplier of premium casual and sportswear blank apparel for the printwear industry has been acquired by Blue Point Capital Partners and its portfolio company Next Level Apparel.

Founded in 1953 and based in Aachen, Germany, Stedman also has operations in Ghent, Belgium, and Zagreb, Croatia, all supporting a strong market presence in 40 countries. This international foundation is expected to serve as a critical accelerant to NLA’s strategic geographic expansion in Europe.

“The team at Stedman is excited to join ranks with Next Level Apparel, a strong partner and the perfect match, thanks to numerous synergistic qualities and values across both companies,” said Stedman General Manager Marcel Schweigert. “This partnership opens up new growth opportunities for everyone involved, and I am personally thrilled to be part of it, not only as a stakeholder but also as a shareholder.”

Founded in 2003, NLA is a designer, manufacturer and supplier of premium blank apparel for the printwear, retail, brand specialty and other decorated apparel markets.

“The Stedman team has built a strong brand and a culture of excellence, and we’re excited to have them join Next Level Apparel,” said NLA CEO Randy Hales. “This partnership presents a great opportunity to expand and diversify both organizations’ footprints across Europe and the U.S.”

Blue Point Principal Evan Cottington added: “Not only is this an exciting milestone for all involved, it also further validates our belief in M&A and geographic expansion as key drivers for the business’s strategic growth.”