ANNOUNCEMENT

I am pleased to announce that King's Safetywear Limited (KSW) has entered into a strategic initiative with Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell), a Fortune 100 company and global market leader in the Personal Protective Equipment space through its Honeywell Safety Products division (HSP).

The ultimate owners of KSW have signed an agreement with Honeywell effecting the sale of 100% of KSW shares to Honeywell. The completion of this transaction is expected around mid-December 2011.

Honeywell, through HSP, undertakes to keep the KSW Group structures intact and to retain its entire management and employees in their respective roles and positions. The KSW structure and business will be placed in HSP.

The KING'S, OTTER and OLIVER brands shall be retained and their market positioning maintained.

Through its subsidiaries worldwide, KSW shall maintain 'business as usual' with its stakeholders including customers, distributors, suppliers, contractors, unions, industry associations, consultants and employees.

The management believes that this new strategic direction will enable our existing business to make the quantum leap to true global leadership.

On behalf of the KSW Group, I sincerely thank our stakeholders worldwide for their valued support through the years. Looking ahead, I would anticipate these relationships being enhanced in quality and mutual benefit from achieving synergies and gaining added support services available through this association with Honeywell.

Frankie Chan
Executive Chairman
King's Safetywear Limited

In March this year Cape York mine worker Todd Bairstow spent fifteen minutes battling a 3.5 metre long crocodile which attacked him from behind while he was fishing on the banks of a local creek.

What ensued was a fifteen minute long battle while Todd clung to mangroves and punched the crocodile to discourage it from dragging him under water, which would have surely meant death by drowning.

By the time that assistance and his rescuers arrived in response to Todd's screams he still hadn't escaped the jaws of the big crocodile.

He describes it as like a 'tug of war" with his only his Oliver safety boots acting as a defence "against my feet being torn off".

But his injuries were extremely serious including lower limb lacerations, cuts to his hands, a broken leg and dislocated joints.

Todd was quickly airlifted to the Cairns Base Hospital by the Royal Flying Doctor Service and he has undergone a long period of hospitalisation and continuing treatment to recover from his wounds.

Two months after the crocodile attack Todd is now able to leave hospital at weekends as he is still undergoing a five day schedule of physiotherapy treatment to help him regain full use of his legs in particular.

At the time the croc attacked Todd he was wearing a pair of Oliver AT 55 boots and his experiences lead him to believe that the boots actually saved him from more serious injury.

Todd says "I dislodged the croc and his grip at one point and he made a second grab at me, but he contacted with my boots.

"Fortunately the croc was unable to get another grip or penetrate the leather uppers of the Oliver boots and I believe they saved me from even more serious injuries.

"This was an enormous plus for the durability and protection of Oliver AT55's" Todd says.

After hearing about the attack and the injuries suffered by Todd Oliver Footwear decided to ensure that Todd received a replacement pair of their AT 55 boots for those he was wearing at the time of the attack.

Oliver Footwear's Queensland's Sales Manager Adam Workman, recently visited Todd in the Cairns Base Hospital and handed over a complimentary pair of AT style 55-285 Zip sided boots as replacement

"We are not recommending that Oliver Footwear safety and industrial footwear should be considered part of a frontline protection pack against a crocodile attack, but it's reassuring to know that when tough conditions and circumstances prevail on or off the worksite that Oliver's AT 55's range is up to the job" Adam says.

Oliver Footwear's new 33-650 all-purpose boot features a handy side zip.

Oliver Footwear's commitment to comfort continues, with the release of the new Style WB 33-650.

It's a new Mid Cut Safety Boot that offers the superior comfort features synonymous with the Oliver name, plus a front lace up and side zipper combination which means they are now even easier to put on and take off.

The 33-650 is the perfect choice for a diverse range of workplaces where both safety protection and wearer comfort is the key.

The uppers are manufactured from high quality black water resistant full grain leather, so they are sure to keep feet comfortably dry and are sturdy enough for the toughest job sites.

Like the rest of the WB's range, the 33-650 features the NATUREform Type 1 safety toe cap, its wide profile ensuring a more comfortable fit as the toes won't come in contact with the protective toe cap.

To protect feet from the harshest conditions, the outsole is heat resistant to 130° Celsius and resistant to mineral and organic oils and acids.

While the dual density midsole paired with Oliver's unique COMFORTcushion provides a shock absorption system that reduces foot, leg and lower back fatigue, making Oliver's WB 33-650 one of the most comfortable and durable work boots on the market.

The sole design provides superior grip, ensuring that even the most slippery conditions present no issues.

Full compliance is also afforded to the AS/NZS Standard AS/NZS 2210.3.

The boots are available in sizes from 4 to 13 with half size increments from 6½ to 10½.



Oliver's new 33-650 all-purpose boot features a handy side zip.

Oliver Footwear's reputation is for work boots have always been comfortable and hard wearing.

Now they're also easy to get on and off with to a new quick release side zip.

New levels of comfort are afforded by Oliver's unique COMFORTcushion system that is designed to take the sting out of foot stress.

Add a wide profile NATUREform Toe Cap that doesn't rub against toes and you have a boot with outstanding comfort and convenience.

Australia's leading safety footwear manufacture, Oliver Footwear, announced today that it has merged with the King's Safetywear (KSW) Group, an international group of companies specialising in manufacturing safety footwear with headquarters in Singapore.

Andrew Oliver, the majority owner and chairman of Oliver Footwear which has been owned by the Oliver family since it began in 1887, said that the merger will enhance Oliver's position as Australia No. 1 safety footwear manufacturer. Aggregating Oliver's sales with those of the KSW Group Australian business gives the Group a greater relative market share lead. He added that distributors can be assured of 'business as usual' and that their current supply of products shall in no way be changed or affected as a result of the merger.

Additionally the alliance will bring along substantial opportunities for selling OLIVER branded products through the established distribution channels of the KSW Group outside Australia - in Asia, Middle East and Europe. Philip Hughes, Managing Director of Oliver Footwear says he is excited about this new opportunity. Oliver's current and future export clients will also greatly benefit from this partnership. They will obtain greater access to all of Oliver's safety footwear solutions through the extensive international distribution channels of the KSW Group.

Frankie Chan, chairman of the KSW Group, welcomed Andrew Oliver as a new substantial shareholder and director of the enlarged Group and is particularly pleased that the whole of Mr. Oliver's long-serving management and its entire team of staff and workers will continue in their respective positions. He added that with the global alliance of three leading brands originating from Australia (OLIVER), Singapore (KING'S) and Germany (OTTER) and a combined group footwear manufacturing tradition of 288 years, the enlarged KSW Group will be numbered amongst the top three branded safety footwear manufacturing groups worldwide.

Oliver's recent release of the AT 45-645C 150mm (6") Lace Up Boot has also signified the completion of a comfort overhaul within the entire AT 45 series range.

The new boot offers features that will complement many industries including agriculture, building and construction, manufacturing, transport and logistics.

The introduction of the style marks the first non-metallic offering in the 45 series range, the hi-impact NATUREform wide profile composite toe cap is guaranteed to not activate metal detectors, generate sparks or rust.

A lightweight, heavy duty dual density Polyurethane (PU) / Thermo plastic urethane (TPU) sole combination offers maximum cushioning from impact in the midsole while ensuring a tough hard wearing outsole that is heat resistant to 130° Celsius.

While also offering protection against the effects of hydrolysis the outsole is also resistant to minerals, organic oils and acids. The excellent slip, crack and split resistant properties of the sole ensure maximum comfort for longer.

All these sole features enable the wearer to experience reduced fatigue on areas of the lower back, foot and leg.

The stylish offering incorporates black water resistant full grain leather with a lace locking device and the added comfort of a padded collar and tongue.

This great new style and the complete AT 45 series range all offer Oliver's unique COMFORTcushion impact absorption system. This revolutionary system offers maximum all day comfort by using a combination cellular urethane and PORON, these act together to protect the heel and ball of the foot through superior cushioning and shock absorption.

To ensure a greater wearing experience Oliver have now added to the 45 series range cellular urethane inserts in the heel and ball of the midsole. This further enhances the all day comfort as the specially designed shape of the cellular urethane allows for extra shock absorption while always maintaining shape integrity.

Available in all popular size ranges and with half size increments the Oliver AT 45 series and the AT 45-645C form part of a range of safety footwear that is encouraging more and more workers to love their feet more!

For more information email info@oliver.com.au or call the company at its Ballarat Vic headquarters on 03 5320 0200.

Oliver Footwear's commitment to producing quality safety footwear solutions has been further enhanced by the recent awarding of the CE Standards approval.

SAI Global Assurance Services has authorised the industry leading Oliver AT 55's, AT 65's and ST 44's series with the mark.

The CE mark popularly regarded as the European quality standard embraces a significant range of products and is mandatory for products sold within 27 countries of the European Union and asserts that the item meets all the essential 'Health & Safety' requirements of the relevant European Directives.

The term CE is derived from the French 'Conformite Européenne' and was first adopted in 1985.

The CE mark insignia is commonly attached to numerous items of equipment, components and parts which are imported into Australia from the countries within the European Union and is accepted as an indication of their quality.

Oliver Footwear's managing director Phil Hughes says that his company has been certified by SAI Global Assurance Service to "the Directive for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Directive No 89/686/EEC and carries the CE mark accordingly.

"Oliver throughout its long history has always sought to produce industrial and safety footwear which complies with the highest quality levels including the relevant Australian and New Zealand Product Standards.

"Gaining the CE mark for three of our most recent footwear releases we consider reflects Oliver's commitment to world's best practices and achieving the highest quality of our products" Mr Hughes says.

For more information on the safety and industrial footwear ranges including the most recent AT55, AT 65 and ST 44 Ranges see the website www.oliver.com.ua email info@oliver.com.au or by call 03 5320 0200 for technical literature and product specifications.

  

The Oliver Footwear safety work boot designated as the AT 55-232 is one of the style choices within the Oliver AT55, AT65 and ST44 ranges which now carry the accredited CE mark.

Oliver Footwear has completed the development of two new Safety Boots specially designed for the international aluminium smelter industry, which are also expected to become the preferred choice for the foundry, other 'hot metal' heavy duty high heat industrial environments.

The two new boots, designated Oliver Smelter Boots Style Number 25-298 and 25-299 have resulted from an eighteen month long product development, testing and evaluation process involving several Australian smelters before undergoing a final evaluation process conducted in conjunction with the Boyne Smelters Limited at Gladstone in Queensland.

Boyne Smelters, a member of the Rio Tinto Alcan Group is Australia's largest aluminium smelter producing more than half a million tonnes of aluminium a year, created an internal product evaluation team involving their safety, occupational health and hygiene personnel to review the preferred solutions they were seeking from their protective equipment.

Oliver Footwear spokesman Stuart Hull says "Boyne Smelters were keen to have access to a Smelter Boot which would have very high levels of personal comfort and safe protection for their smelter operations personnel.

"Also the boot needed to have a Type 1 non-magnetic safety protective toe cap due to the strong magnetic fields and the electrical conductivity which exist in the immediate smelter area as well as providing reduced fatigue levels.

"This required Oliver to develop both a lightweight protective non-magnetic aluminium toe cap with the traditional Oliver wide profile with an internal latex cushion liner which ensures toes are comfortable and not in contact with the cap.

"In conjunction with Carl Watt the Site Safety Specialist and Sharon Catford (OHN) at the Boyne Smelter Oliver developed a range of product specifications which could also address the comfort issues.

"In fact we were able to draw upon specific comfort features from the market leading Oliver All Terrain (AT) range which could be incorporated in both new Smelter Boots" Hull says.

Carl Watt confirms that while previous smelter boots met our required safety standards they did not match operator expectations in terms of comfort.

"Oliver Footwear was very proactive in working with us to enhance the operator comfort and we are very pleased with the solutions which have emerged."

The comfort features include Oliver's unique COMFORTcushion which combines cellular urethane and PORON to protect both the heel and the ball of the foot and through its constant impact absorption helps reduce foot, leg and lower back fatigue.

The inclusion of a NANOLITE foot bed also provides greater comfort and well being as the raised surface section of the foot bed massages the foot by movement, promoting greater blood flow to also reduce fatigue.

The new Oliver Smelter Boots are produced with a high quality heat resistant and flame retardant black leather upper with a quick release Velcro closure.

All critical seams of the Boots incorporate three rows of heavy duty Kevlar stitching for increased strength with the outsole of the Boot resistant to 300 degrees C of surface contact.

Smelter Boots are also required to be dip tested in 960 degrees C of molten aluminium for three seconds.

The Boot was also required to have a number of specific features including a sole that is slip resistant with superior resistance to cuts, as well as resistant to mineral oils and acids and organic oils and fats.

The slight difference in Style Numbers also reflects that Oliver Style No 25-299 offers a Metatarsal Guard which affords further protection against impact on the leading edge of the foot.

Each boot also has a TECtuff toe guard which protects the front edge of the Boot, which has a padded collar and a full lining internally.

The new Oliver Smelter Boots are produced in sizes from 5 to 15 with half size increments from 6½ to 10½.

Oliver Footwear's Stuart Hull says "news of Oliver's customer focussed development process and the features of the new Smelter Boots has quickly permeated the international smelter industry and Oliver has already sold the new Boots to the SOHAR Aluminium Smelter in Oman which commenced production in June 2008 with a targeted annual output of 350,000 tonnes of aluminium.

"As news about the new Oliver Smelter Boots spreads throughout this industry sector we are confident they will be the preferred safety footwear choice for the hot metal industries internationally" Stuart Hull says.

For more information contact Oliver Footwear by emailing info@oliver.com.au or see the website www.oliver.com.au

Resulting from an intensive customer focussed development process Oliver Footwear has released two new Smelter Boots specially designed with a host of comfort and safety features to meet the specific needs of the aluminium smelter industry and specific hot metal industry environments.

Shown is Oliver Style No 25-299 which offers an additional Metatarsal Guard which also protects the leading edge of the foot against impact damage.