Kathmandu owner KMD Brands in exclusive takeover talks with Bluestar Alliance

NZ Herald

2 Nov, 2026 02:56 AMQuick Read

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Kathmandu owner KMD Brands has entered into exclusive talks with US firm Bluestar Alliance.

Shares in KMD Brands, which owns retailers Kathmandu and Rip Curl, touched $2.15 on Monday morning after opening at $2.05 and announcing it is in exclusive takeover talks.

The stock was trading up more than 10% at 2.30pm.

The listed outdoor retailer’s shares are down 90% in the past five
years.

Generate Funds investment specialist Greg Smith said the company had been through “a brutal few years”.

KMD said on Monday it had entered an exclusivity agreement with US firm Bluestar Alliance, which owns the Dickies and Hurley brands.