As Sears Holdings weighs selling its Kenmore and DieHard brands, the retailer’s KCD Brands Division continues pursuing licensing deals, Mike Angus, Senior Director for International Business Development and Licensing for the Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard brands, told us.

KCD struck an agreement with Permasteel for a line of Kenmore and Kenmore Elite gas grills, grill covers and accessories for general retail distribution, the first of what is expected to be several licensing agreements for both the Kenmore and DieHard brands expected in the coming weeks, says Angus. The Permasteel pact is limited to the U.S., but KCD is seeking international agreements as well.

Permasteel is expected to have a limited amount of product available initially and make a stronger push in 2018, given that most major retailers have already made buying decisions for this year, says Angus. Permasteel, an OEM grill supplier to Sears, sells gas and charcoal grills under its brand through Home Depot Canada, Sears and True Value and also has a license for Pepsi branded ice chests.

The KCD Brands group was formed about seven years ago and largely focused on licensing the Craftsman brand, says Angus. When Sears announced plans about a year ago to seek buyers for the Craftsman, Kenmore and DieHard brands, licensing plans were put on hold. But following the proposed sale of Craftsman to Stanley Black and Decker, KCD rekindled discussions on licensing for the Kenmore and DieHard brands, says Angus.

“We were on hold there for a while, but now they have let us loose again as we try to maximize the value of the brands,” says Angus.