Bob Sockolov, Rochester's president and CEO, joins CMRG's boardof directors, and the Rochester name will remain in place. "We seean incredible synergy between the Rochester and Casual Male brandsand the opportunity to leverage the brands," said David Levin,president and CEO of CRMG, which is based here.

"Rochester is the premier bit and toll operator . . . ," CRMGchairman Seymour Holtzman said in a statement when it announced itsintention to acquire the company. "By capitalizing on thesignificant synergies in merchandising, marketing and direct toconsumer business, we expect there to be significant expansionopportunities for Rochester in the US an international markets," headded.

Rochester was founded more than 95 years ago and specializes insuch brands as Burberry, Polo Ralph Lauren, Versace Classic,Ermenegildo Zenga, and Kenneth Cole. It has 21 stores in 12 USstates and one unit in London along with catalog and Internetsales. For the year ended June 30, 2004, the family owned businessreported unaudited sales of $65 million.