The private licensing agreement for the franchise is expected to be announced at a press conference attended by Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark, a representative of the new operators and New Zealand Rugby [NZR] general manager of relationships, planning and operations Nigel Cass.
The Highlanders are the last of the five New Zealand franchises to seek a private licensing agreement, and negotiations have been ongoing for more than a year.
Highlanders board member and former Bay of Plenty Rugby Union chief executive Jeremy Curragh, who played a big hand in saving the Otago Rugby Football Union from liquidation in 2012, has been overseeing the agreement.
While NZR will remain the main stakeholder, the owner of the licence announced today will get to control some parts of the franchise and receive income from match tickets and sponsorship.
It is understood NZR will continue to pay the players and some of the management team, and will also pocket the broadcasting income.
NZR has pushed for outside investment to take pressure off its balance sheet and open up more marketing opportunities.
Regardless of where the new operators are from, the big question will be whether they want Highlanders games to be played outside Otago and Southland.
A Singaporean group fronted by businessman Eric Series was rumoured to be interested in investing in the franchise at the beginning of the year, but that now appears unlikely.
Curragh has previously told the Otago Daily Times that sealing a licensing agreement would secure the future of the Highlanders in Dunedin.
Investors in the Blues and Chiefs paid $4 million and $3.3 million respectively, while it is thought about $3 million was paid for the private licences for the Crusaders and Hurricanes.
The figure for the Highlanders is not expected to be as much, and any investment in the franchise is likely to include provincial unions.
The Highlanders were not initially included in the sales process of the New Zealand franchises due to financial concerns.
