Russell Newman Brands Sells St. Eve® Division to the Komar Company

NEW YORK, Feb. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Russell Newman Brands announced today that it has sold its St. Eve® division of women's and children's sleepwear, intimates, and accessories to the Komar Company. Russell Newman will maintain ownership of its existing branded portfolio which will become the key focus of the company.

"This sale will allow us to concentrate on our stable of heritage brands," said Ray Nadeau, President of Russell Newman Brands. "We will continue to offer premium product solutions that emotionally connect to our consumer. I have always viewed our team as a group of brand builders, and the sale will give them the focus needed to take our Karen Neuburger, Cypress, Willow Creek, and Laura Ashley businesses to the next level."

Launched as Oprah Winfrey's very first "Favorite Thing", the KN Karen Neuburger® brand still represents the marriage of comfort and classic styling. KN is a traditional women's business and is known for its feminine, layered prints and the comfortable, soft hand of its fabrication. KN has an active fan base, some of who will only sleep in KN products. The brand is currently building its daywear and loungewear businesses with the same "comfort promise" in mind.

Cypress®, long known as the premier supplier of luxury robes and bath products to the hotel and spa industry, is the gold standard in upscale robe designs. The brand's list of clients include the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Wynn Resorts in Las Vegas and Macau, and Omni Hotels. The same attention to innovation and special details inherent in the hotel product line are also designed into the brand's retail-focused business which is broken into 3 key brand categories:

• Luxe- Luxury, premium robes
• Classics- The stylish, cozy robes that defined Cypress's heritage
• Everyday Essentials- Basic robes that meet the customer's everyday needs

Willow Creek®, the branded business that brought separates to the marketplace, has also been relaunched to meet the demand for comfortable, classic sleepwear separates. Willow Creek's unique focus is on fit and function. Designs will be interpreted in all key fabrications. The special fit promise will be announced at retail to direct consumers to the perfect fit for her.

Laura Ashley® Sleepwear, the only licensed business, targets the updated Missy customer with its vintage modern, feminine styles and easy to wear mix-and-match collections.

"Each RNB brand comes with its own equity and heritage and each one is laser-focused on a very specific customer," said Jenna Lowe, Director of Marketing and Public Relations. "Our collective goal is to continue to build consumer passion for each brand."

"As a company, we have both strong branded and private label category insights to help our retail partners define and capitalize on our mutual "white space" growth opportunities," said Nadeau. "Our entrepreneurial spirit, understanding of category management, and continued focus on supply chain excellence will enable us to exceed our customer's expectations."

The sale of the St. Eve division will result in the eventual moving of the company's operational office in Denton, Texas to RNB's New York City headquarters. The company's distribution operations will be moving to Compton, California. Divisional offices will remain in San Rafael, California and Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

About Russell Newman Brands

Russell Newman Brands is a privately owned portfolio company specializing in the sleepwear, loungewear, and intimate apparel categories. With a focus on brand building and acquisition, Russell Newman designs, develops, manufactures, distributes, and markets such brands as KN Karen Neuburger®, Cypress®, Willow Creek® and Laura Ashley® Sleepwear. More information about products can be found online at www.russellnewman.com

SOURCE Russell Newman Brands