Premium Guard Inc. has completed its acquisition of key intellectual property and related assets from First Brands Group, closing a transaction first announced in March and advancing the company’s push to broaden its aftermarket product portfolio.
The deal, which required bankruptcy court approval, marks the latest development in the restructuring of First Brands Group, which sought protection under Chapter 11 in late 2025. As part of that process, First Brands launched a formal sale of its businesses and assets and moved to wind down several North American product lines, including Brake Parts Inc., Cardone and Autolite, while pursuing buyers for intellectual property tied to its remaining brands.
Premium Guard said the transaction officially closed following completion of all required approvals and customary closing conditions.
The acquisition includes a portfolio of patents, engineering know‑how and technical capabilities spanning multiple maintenance categories, including filtration, wiper blades, spark plugs and lift support. It also covers intellectual property and assets associated with several known aftermarket brands, including Autolite, FRAM, Trico, Anco, LuberFiner and StrongArm.
When the agreement was announced, court filings outlined a purchase price of $25 million, plus additional quarterly payments equal to 1.25 per cent of net sales, capped at $8 million.
“This marks an important step in strengthening our platform and positions PGI for expansion into new categories,” said Anan Bishara, founder and CEO of Premium Guard Inc. “It also enables us to leverage proven engineering capabilities and accelerate the delivery of innovative, high‑quality products to market. The real work begins now as we focus on revitalizing these legacy assets and fully leveraging the patents, engineering, and know‑how built on decades of ingenuity.”
Founded in 1996, Premium Guard has grown as a supplier of private label and branded aftermarket products, building a global supply chain and capabilities in product management, engineering and category management. The company said the addition of these assets allows it to move beyond its core filtration business into adjacent maintenance categories and deliver more comprehensive, multi‑category offerings to customers.
Premium Guard also said the inclusion of globally recognized brands provides a stronger foundation for international growth, enabling it to better support customers as they expand beyond North America.
The company emphasized that the acquisition does not change its core business model. Premium Guard said it will continue to focus on private label programs, category management and supply chain execution.
“Our commitment to our customers remains at the center of everything we do,” Bishara said. “This investment allows us to grow alongside our partners, support their evolving needs, and continue delivering high‑quality, reliable solutions at scale.”
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