EMPORIA, KS/BLENHEIM, ONTARIO – Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation announced today that it and its subsidiary, Hopkins Canada, Inc. have acquired the market leading retail automotive splash guard product lines from NuVue Products Inc., Buffalo, New York and NuVue Products LTD. of Ontario, Canada, formerly known as Powerflow. The acquisition includes the established brand names RoadSport, Big Mudder, ProFit, BadgeZ, RoadGuard, and Defender Tow Guard; plus the inventory, patents and intellectual property for the splash guard and mud flap lines.

The acquisition supplements Hopkins existing vehicle and automotive accessory product lines and leverages its North American manufacturing and distribution capabilities.

“The market leading splash guard and mud flap products are a nice addition to our offering and grows our position in vehicle accessories,” said Bradley T. Kraft, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hopkins. “This addition expands our ability to provide our existing customers and new customers with the broadest line of automotive accessory products in the United States and Canada,” added Mr. Kraft.

“Hopkins was the logical buyer for our splash guard product line” said Doug Ward, President of NuVue Products Inc. and NuVue Products LTD. “They amazed us with the ability to complete this transaction in these uncertain times.”

Hopkins will integrate manufacturing of these product lines to its Emporia, Kansas facility and will distribute from its Edgerton, Kansas and Blenheim, Ontario distribution centers, where it currently distributes its vehicle accessory, winter, towing, cleaning, fluid management and other product lines to the North American and export markets.

Recent acquisitions by Hopkins include the RCR cleaning, winter and log stacker products; Tiger Accessory Group, a leader in trailer and auxiliary lighting and cleaning products; Acme Chamois^®, the leader in automotive chamois, Air Power America^®, the leader of oil extraction technology for automotive and marine engines, Bell Automotive Products, interior and vehicle accessories; Mallory^®, the market leader in Canada for snow tools and in North America for gas station squeegees; the fluid management drain pans and ramps of F3 Brands; Mr. Funnel^®, a simple but effective line of portable fuel filters that remove water, dirt and debris from all types of fuels; and TowDaddy® line of towed vehicle wire harness kits.

About Hopkins
Headquartered in Emporia, Kansas, Hopkins is a leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of quality, innovative specialized towing products and functional accessories for the automotive and recreational vehicle aftermarkets. Hopkins markets its products under a number of well-recognized brand names, including: Hopkins Towing Solutions^® Trailer Wiring, Lighting and Brake Control Products; The Detailer’s Choice^®, Carrand™, AutoSpa™, Tanner’s Select^®, Pacific Coast™, Rain-X^® and OXICLEAN™ Vehicle Cleaning Products; Mallory^® Squeegees; FloTool^® Fluid Management Products; Bell^®, Victor™, Monkey Grip™ and GoGear^® Vehicle Accessories; SubZero^® and Mallory^® Snow & Ice Tools; Brake Buddy^® RV Tow Braking Systems; Blazer^® Auxiliary Lighting; nVISION™ Vehicle Safety Products; ARM & HAMMER™ and DUO™ Automotive Air Fresheners; and Juice Performance™ Booster Cables. Founded in 1953, the company has been guided by the philosophy that its products will deliver meaningful innovation, performance and value to the consumer. Hopkins has North American manufacturing and distribution in the US, (i.e., Kansas and Oklahoma); in Canada in Blenheim, Ontario and in Mexico in Juarez, Chihuahua. For more information on Hopkins, visit its website at www.HopkinsMfg.com.

For more information:
Michael S. Williams
Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer
(620) 340-8403
mike.williams@hopkinsmfg.com

Bradley T. Kraft
President, Chief Executive Officer
(620) 340-8405
brad.kraft@hopkinsmfg.com