Complex sentence: In the early to mid- 2000s, the Eastwood guitar company acquired the rights to use the "Airline" brand-name; however, the Eastwood guitar company has never been directly affiliated with the long defunct Valco company.
Split into simpler sentences: In the early to mid- 2000s, the Eastwood Guitar Co. acquired the rights to use the "Airline" brand-name. Eastwood has never been directly affiliated with the long-defunct Valco company.