NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of Everlast Worldwide Inc. rose on Thursday as the sporting goods maker said it has signed a new distribution and manufacturing license with footwear marketer E.S. Originals Inc.

E.S. Originals will distribute Everlast-branded shoes for men, women and children in the U.S. and Canada beginning in the second quarter of 2007. Financial terms of the deal were undisclosed.

The deal replaces Everlast's previous footwear license agreement with the Meldisco division of Footstar Inc. That agreement focused on mass-merchant discount retailers. The new agreement is focused on sporting goods stores, athletic footwear retailers and department stores.

Shares of Everlast rose 76 cents, or 6.2 percent, to $13.08 during afternoon trading on the Nasdsaq. The stock has traded in a 52-week range of $3.39 to $20.63.