Collective Brands Continues to Expand its Performance + Lifestyle Group Brands in International Markets with New Partners in Ten Countries

LEXINGTON, Mass., Feb. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Collective Brands Performance + Lifestyle Group (PLG), which owns globally recognized brands such as Sperry Top-Sider®, Saucony®, Keds® and Stride Rite®, announced today that is has signed new agreements with partners in ten countries to continue the rapid international expansion of several of its brands in Mexico, Indonesia, Japan, five South American countries and the Czech Republic.

"Teaming with the right strategic partner in each market is critical to the successful international expansion of our brands, and we are thrilled today to be announcing partnerships with these leading firms to expand the brand presence of Saucony, Sperry Top-Sider, Keds and PRO-Keds across these important international markets,"  said Gregg Ribatt, CEO of the Collective Brands PLG unit.

Through a wholesale distribution agreement for Saucony and a wholesale distribution and retail development agreement for Sperry Top-Sider, Tavistock Group Mexico will re-introduce the two brands into the Mexico market. Tavistock Group is a global company with nearly 160 business units operating in 15 countries including a broad portfolio of sports and lifestyle brands, as well as a retail store chain.   Sperry Top-Sider and Saucony will be made available at premium and specialty retail locations throughout the country through the firm's leading sport brand wholesale channel. 

Through a manufacturing license agreement with Lifegear Corporation, Tokyo, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation, and sub-licensee Toho Lamac Co. Ltd., also headquartered in Tokyo, the two organizations will team up and design, manufacture and distribute through its wholesale partners Keds and PRO-Keds footwear products for the Japanese market.

PLG has also signed a wholesale distribution and retail development deal to introduce Sperry Top-Sider into Indonesia with MAP ACTIVE, SE -- Asia's largest sports and leisure retailer, which generated more than $230 million (US) in revenue in 2011.  MAP ACTIVE currently has 500 stores in its store chain and expects to have more than 1,000 stores by 2013.

Additional wholesale distribution agreements cover the first-time entrance of the PLG brands into new markets including with Swiss Sports, which will distribute Sperry and Keds in Bolivia; Motociclo Sports, which will distribute Saucony into the Uruguay market; Tecaryn will distribute Keds and Sperry in the Uruguay market; and Buzz will introduce Keds and PRO-Keds to shoppers of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic.  Market re-entrance deals include Swiss Sports for Sperry and Keds in Chile and Peru, as well as SAV, which will represent the Saucony brand in the Argentina market.

All the deals announced today by Collective Brands' PLG unit are multi-year agreements. Additional details are not disclosed.

About Collective Brands, Inc.

Collective Brands, Inc. (NYSE: PSS) is a leader in bringing compelling lifestyle, fashion and performance brands for footwear and related accessories to consumers worldwide. The company operates three strategic units covering a powerful brand portfolio, as well as multiple price points and selling channels including retail, wholesale, ecommerce and licensing. Collective Brands, Inc. includes the Performance + Lifestyle Group (PLG), focused on lifestyle and performance branded footwear and high-quality children's footwear sold primarily through wholesaling, with its brands including Sperry Top-Sider®, Saucony®, Keds®, Stride Rite® and Robeez® by Stride Rite, among others; Payless ShoeSource, focused on democratizing fashion and design in footwear and accessories through its nearly 4,500-store retail chain, with its brands Airwalk®, Dexter®, Champion® and designer collections by fashion designers Christian Siriano, Lela Rose, Isabel Toledo and Silvia Tcherassi; and Collective Licensing International, the brand development, management and global licensing unit, with such youth lifestyle brands as Airwalk®, Above The Rim®, Vision Street Wear®, STRIKEFORCE™, Clinch Gear™, Sims®, Lamar® and LTD®, World Snowboarding Championships™ and Hind®. Information about, and links for shopping on, each of the Collective Brand's units can be found at www.collectivebrands.com.

SOURCE Collective Brands, Inc.