Mentha today announces it has sold its majority stake in Brownline, a leading global provider of disruptive steering services for horizontal directional drilling (HDD), to Halma. 

Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Meerkerk, the Netherlands, Brownline specialises in offering high-precision steering and locating technology to HDD contractors and drilling specialists. Its proprietary systems enable highly accurate underground drilling without surface disruption, supporting the installation of critical infrastructure such as power cables, water pipelines and fibre optic networks. With operations across Europe, North America and Australia, Brownline serves HDD contractors globally and plays a key role in enabling safer, more efficient infrastructure development in urban and environmentally sensitive areas.  

Brownline’s partnership with Mentha began in 2017 and has been market by a strong focus on growth through buy-and-build and international expansion. Since the start of our collaboration, total revenues have quadrupled, driven by the successful deployment of Brownline’s unique, in-house developed technology and a continued emphasis on research and development which significantly reinforced the company’s market-leading position. 

Bertjan Molenaar, Founder and CEO of Brownline said: “I would like to thank Mentha for their partnership over the last 7 years. Together with Mentha and all Brownline employees we made great progress in further professionalizing the company and growing the business internationally. Joining Halma marks an exciting new chapter for Brownline. We’ve built our reputation on precision, innovation, and reliability—values that align closely with Halma’s purpose and long-term vision. Their decentralised model gives us the autonomy to continue doing what we do best, while benefiting from the strength of a global group committed to solving critical infrastructure challenges.” 

Gijs Botman, Partner at Mentha, commented: “It has been a pleasure to work together with Brownline’s founders, management and employees over the past eight years. Their hard work has helped in strengthening Brownline’s position as the market leader in disruptive HDD steering services. Together, we have continuously focused on R&D to drive technological leadership, while professionalizing the organization and preserving its strong culture. We are proud of what we have jointly achieved and grateful for everyone’s contribution. With Halma onboard we believe Brownline has found the right partner to continue its journey to further improve and grow the company.” 

Marc Ronchetti, Group Chief Executive of Halma, commented: “Brownline’s technology is a game-changer for safely installing underground infrastructure. Their ability to deliver pinpoint accuracy without surface disruption is increasingly vital as cities continue to expand and electrification accelerates. Brownline are a strong strategic fit with Halma’s purpose, supporting the global energy transition. We’re proud to welcome them to Halma and look forward to supporting their continued growth and success.”