Wolverine World Wide, Inc., Blum Capital And Golden Gate Capital Sign Definitive Agreement To Acquire Collective Brands, Inc.

Collective Brands, Inc. and a consortium comprised of Wolverine Worldwide, Blum Capital Partners and Golden Gate Capital announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Collective Brands will be acquired for $21.75 per share in cash, or a total of approximately $2.0 billion, including the assumption of debt. The purchase price represents a 104% premium to the 30-day volume weighted average trading price prior to the August 24, 2011 announcement that Collective Brands’ Board of Directors, together with management, would conduct a review of strategic and financial alternatives. Upon closing, which is expected to occur late in the third quarter or early in the fourth quarter of the current calendar year, Wolverine Worldwide will acquire Collective Brands’ Performance + Lifestyle Group (PLG), which includes the wholesale and retail operations of the Sperry Top-Sider, Saucony, Stride Rite and Keds brands, and will continue to operate out of Lexington, Massachusetts. PLG had revenue of more than $1 billion in the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012. Investment firms Blum Capital and Golden Gate will jointly acquire the operations of Payless ShoeSource and Collective Licensing International (CLI), which together will operate as a standalone entity. Payless will continue to be headquartered in Topeka, Kansas and CLI in Englewood, Colorado. Wolverine Worldwide, Blum Capital and Golden Gate have formed an acquisition company that is acquiring Collective Brands.