Hat World Acquires Impact Sports

March 30, 2009

Hat World, Inc., a subsidiary of Genesco Inc., acquired Impact Sports, a team dealer, custom screen printer and embroidery operator based in Madison, WI. Impact Sports targets colleges and universities, high schools, bookstores, corporations and youth organizations.

According to its website, Impact Sports was founded in 1990. In 1996, Reebok became its first major brand and three years later, adidas was added as its second. By 2002, Nike would become the third and within a year would become its sole major brand. Impact Sports is now one of three Nike Platinum Dealers overall. Other brands sold by Impact Sports are Top of the World, Brett Bros., Gildan, Columbia, Cutter & Buck, Ash City, Adams, Holloway, Alleson Athletic and Dodger.

“We view this strategic expansion into the team and fan apparel business as a strong complement to our retail business,” said Hat World president Ken Kocher. “The team dealer business is highly fragmented, but we believe that Impact Sports business model has been proven to be successful and that it has considerable growth potential. Our goal is to take this business nationwide to be the largest team dealer in the country.”

Hat World Acquires Impact Sports

March 23, 2009

Hat World, Inc., a subsidiary of Genesco Inc., said it recently
acquired Impact Sports, a team dealer, custom screen printer and
embroidery operator based in Madison, Wis. Terms weren't disclosed.

Impact Sports targets a broad range of customers throughout the United
States, including colleges and universities, high schools, bookstores,
corporations, and youth organizations. It offers a diverse selection of
products including jerseys, warm-ups, fleece, hats, polo shirts,
jackets, equipment, t-shirts, shorts, shoes and other sportswear of a
major athletic brand catered to teams and fans.

“We view this strategic expansion into the team and fan apparel
business as a strong complement to our retail business,” said Hat World
President Ken Kocher. “The team dealer business is highly fragmented,
but we believe that Impact Sports business model has been proven to be
successful and that it has considerable growth potential. Our goal is
to take this business nationwide to be the largest team dealer in the
country.”

“With the transaction completed, and Hat World as our parent company,
we are very excited to start the next era of Impact Sports with our new
partners,” said Impact Sports President Tom Handlen. “We feel we have a
very effective program and to now have the backing and support of such
a great company like Genesco, I believe we can take this model to new
heights. This is a very exciting time at Impact Sports. We will
continue to bring the quality, work-ethic and service that our
customers have been accustomed to at even a higher level.”

About Hat World, Inc.

Founded in 1995, Hat World, Inc. is comprised of more than 850
mall-based, airport, street level and factory outlet stores nationwide,
and in Canada and Puerto Rico, operating primarily under the LIDS
retail brand. The Indianapolis-based company is recognized as a
specialty retail leader of officially licensed and branded athletic
fashion headwear. Hat World also operates smaller retail brands HAT
WORLD, HAT SHACK, LIDS KIDS, HAT ZONE, HEAD QUARTERS and CAP
CONNECTION. The stores offer a vast assortment of officially-licensed
and branded college, MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL teams, as well as other
specialty fashion categories all in the latest styles and colors.
Select stores also offer licensed apparel and custom embroidery
capability. The company serves the core sports fan and
fashion-conscious, trend-savvy mid-teen to mid-20s customer. Hat World
also sells products and promotes the stores through the Internet site
lids.com. In addition, licensed LIDS stores operate from premier
street locations and kiosks within major department stores in Hong Kong
and China. Hat World is a subsidiary of Gene