FORT WORTH, Texas (Apr. 2, 2008)—Williamson-Dickie Mfg. Co., makers of Dickies, has acquired Canadian-based Kodiak Group Holdings Inc., makers of Kodiak-branded boots and Terra safety footwear.

The Kodiak Pro Worker boot

The acquisition is part of Dickies’ global growth strategy, cementing its presence in both the United States and in Canada. “This acquisition continues our North American and global growth strategy, which in part includes identifying brands and products that mirror the values and authenticity of Dickies,” says Philip Williamson, Dickies CEO. “Kodiak is a natural addition to Dickies and will allow us to expand our offerings to meet the needs of our core customers. Because of this, we feel privileged to be able to take this important step for our business and the Dickies brand.”

Under the new acquisition, Kodiak will operate as a Dickies’ affiliate, maintaining its brand names, licenses and its Work Authority retail stores. Kodiak manufactures Kodiak and Terra boots, licenses apparel and accessories and owns Terra Footwear.

The two companies share a similar background and history. Both were family-founded and established in the early 1900s. Kevin Huckle, president of Kodiak Group Holdings Inc. says, “The Kodiak and Dickies brands are complementary—both are rich in heritage and resonate with durability and quality. This acquisition marks an exciting opportunity for Kodiak. It allows us to continue to manufacture our products and maintain our high brand standards as we leverage the strengths of each organization.”

Kodiak will continue to manufacture and distribute its footwear and apparel through existing channels. Most recently, Williamson-Dickie Mfg. Co. also signed a multi-year extension with Rocky Outdoor Gear for continued license of Dickies footwear in U.S. markets.

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