Collective Brands Inc. is among the world’s preeminent footwear, accessory and lifestyle brand companies.  They are the result of three companies coming together in 2007 through Payless ShoeSource’s acquisition of Collective Licensing International, a brand management and global licensing company, and, as announced more on Aug. 17, 2007 the completion of the acquisition of The Stride Rite Corporation, the leader in lifestyle and athletic branded footwear and high-quality children’s footwear.

Collectively – together – they are an expanded enterprise with combined expertise, a powerful brand portfolio, and a broader range of channels to reach, engage and inspire consumer with leading iconic brands, superior quality and on-trend footwear and accessory products.

Collective Brands Inc. now ranks as the largest non-athletic footwear company in the Western Hemisphere and the largest footwear company in the Western Hemisphere based on retail stores. The company is organized with three highly complementary and separate business units that have distinct missions in terms of their product offering, distribution channels, brand portfolio, and target customer base:

• Payless ShoeSource: on a mission to democratize fashion and design in footwear and accessories through its nearly 4,600 store retail chain. Brands for Payless include Airwalk®, American Eagle™, Champion®, Dexter®, Tailwind® (through the Exeter Brands Group of Nike Inc.), Disney®, Shaquille O’Neal-endorsed Dunkman™, ABT for Spotlights, and designer collections: Abaeté for Payless, Lela Rose for Payless and alice + olivia for Payless.
  
   
• The Stride Rite Corporation: centering on premium lifestyle and athletic branded footwear and high-quality children’s footwear sold primarily through wholesaling arrangements and more than 300 Stride Rite store locations. Brands for Stride Rite include Stride Rite®, Keds®, Sperry Top-Sider®, Tommy Hilfiger® footwear, Saucony®, Hind®, and Robeez®, among others.
  
   
• Collective Licensing International: specializing on brand management and global licensing of its expanding portfolio of youth, lifestyle and high-quality fashion athletic brands. Brands for Collective Licensing include: Airwalk®, Vision Street Wear®, Lamar®, Sims®, LTD®, genetic™, Dukes®, Rage®, Ultra-Wheels®, and Skate Attack®.

The new company name was chosen to communicate that together – collectively – these three units and their combined expertise and powerful brand portfolio create a stronger, expanded enterprise well positioned to serve a broadening base of global consumers.