Best Manufacturing to Acquire H.W. Baker Linen Co., Inc.

New York, NY - Best Manufacturing Group LLC announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of H.W. Baker Linen Co., Inc. Headquartered in Mahwah, N.J.; Baker Linen is a critically important supplier of textiles, amenities and guest room supplies to the North American hospitality industry. No terms of the agreement were disclosed.Commenting on the acquisition.

Scott Korman, chairman and CEO of Best, said, "We are delighted to have the Baker Linen organization join the Best team. The integrity, experience and skills that the associates of Baker bring to the table are second to none. They enjoy a wonderful reputation in the North American market and we are proud to be associated with them. Their hospitality industry dedicated product lines, sophisticated logistics capability and forward looking E-Business strategy and systems will allow us to bring our customers the best product offerings and the most up-to-date services available anywhere in the world."

Donald Hymans, chairman and CEO of Baker, commented, "We are really looking forward to this business combination. Best's extremely broad line of products, manufacturing capability, product development expertise and sourcing abilities will provide our customers with expanded opportunities to place all of their business with just one supplier."

Best Manufacturing, founded in 1914, services the textile rental, hospitality, healthcare and image apparel markets with a wide range of products, including, napery, uniforms and other textile products. The company is headquartered in New York and has operations based in New York, Massachusetts, Georgia, South Carolina, Illinois, Texas, Nevada and Mexico. The acquisition of Baker is part of Best's strategy to focus on its core textile and garment businesses, expand product and service lines and to grow through acquisition.

H.W. Baker Linen Co., Inc., which was founded in 1892, is a leading supplier of textile products, amenities and guest room supplies to hotels and motels throughout the United States and Canada. The company currently provides the hospitality industry with everything from sheets, towels and table linens, to blankets, pillows, bedspreads, amenities and other guest room supplies. Baker is headquartered in Mahwah, New Jersey and has distribution centers throughout the United States and Canada.

Donald Hymans, Baker's previous chairman and CEO, who will assume the title of president and CEO of the new division, will lead the company. He will report to Best chairman and CEO, Scott Korman. The combination of the Best's Hospitality Business Unit and Baker, which will conduct business as H.W. Baker Linen Co. LLC, creates a complimentary business that leverages the broad hospitality textile and amenity product lines of Baker with the napery, garment and manufacturing strengths of Best.