North Castle Partners, a Connecticut-based private equity company, have completed an investment in Ignite USA, details of which were not disclosed. Ignite is the marketer of the Contigo and Avex brands for reusable, thermal mugs and hydration bottles. North Castle already holds stakes in various companies, including Performance Bicycles, Octane Fitness and Ibex Outdoor Clothing. Hi-Tec Sports has announced its victory in what it describes as the biggest tender offer in its history. Hi-Tec and its Magnum brand will be the official suppliers of both outdoor and indoor training footwear for the British Ministry of Defence. The contract applies to the Magnum UST and Hi-Tec Viper models. It allows both of them to gain a stock account with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), allowing the company to sell the products to any of the armies from the 28 countries that belong to the alliance. Although it transferred its head office from the U.K. to the Netherlands a few years ago, the British company already won a contract from the British Army last year for five styles of Magnum combat boots. Earlier this year, Magnum secured another contract for heavy-duty combat boots with the Danish military.