Knights Apparel

Knights Apparel Inc. is a leading producer of licensed sports apparel for mass market retailers, mid-tier department stores, and sporting goods retailers. The company has licensing arrangements -- many of many of which are exclusive -- with major brands, colleges and universities, as well as numerous professional sports leagues and teams in North America, including the NHL and NBA. Knights Apparel was acquired in 2004 by Milestone Partners, a private equity firm focused on the middle market. In 2005, Knights Apparel acquired Red Oak Sportswear, a College Station, Texas-based company that designs, imprints and markets collegiate licensed sports apparel and accessories to mass market retailers. The acquisition provided Knights with "direct-to-store" distribution capabilities and enhanced Knight's position as the leading supplier of licensed sports apparel to the mass market. Following the acquisition, Knights became the largest supplier of collegiate sports apparel, according to the Collegiate Licensing Company.