156-year-old Fresno manufacturer sells one of its divisions

One of the Central Valley’s largest and oldest companies has sold one of its three divisions.

Minnesota-based High Bar Brands, a leading provider of commercial vehicle solutions, has announced the acquisition of BettsHD, a division of Betts Company in Fresno.

BettsHD, whose products include metal fenders and mud flap hangers, will keep its brand name as part of the High Bar Brands (HBB) portfolio.

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Betts Company is a 156-year-old family business, established in San Francisco in 1868, then destroyed and rebuilt after the Great Earthquake of 1906. The company moved to Fresno in 2008.

Betts Company President and Chief Operating Officer Bill Betts will remain invested with BettsHD brand under HBB, according to a news release, while his company will continue to independently operate its other divisions, Betts Spring Manufacturing and Betts Truck Parts and Service.

“High Bar Brands has a strong history of successfully integrating family-owned businesses into their robust sales and marketing framework,” said Betts.  “Betts Company has a six-generation legacy, and we’re confident that HBB will continue to grow and improve the BettsHD segment while caring for our employees and customers as we have for over a century and a half.”

Betts said the transaction allows Betts Company to focus on expanding its distribution and springs divisions.

HBB President and CEO Christopher Thorpe said the acquisition is important to the company, and that they are eager to expand their family of brands.

“Our sales and marketing strategy is unique in the industry, and we take a deliberate approach to integrating new brands to ensure everything operates smoothly,” Thorpe said.