MPH.L Regulatory News (MPH)

19 Oct 2005 07:00

Marchpole Holdings PLC19 October 2005 For Immediate Release 19 October 2005 Marchpole Holdings plc Marchpole expands Jean-Charles de Castelbajac ("JCC") in Japan Marchpole Holdings plc, which designs, produces and sells high quality clothingand accessories for six world class brands, is pleased to announce that afurther agreement has been reached with their Japanese partner, Itochu, inrelation to a new Jean-Charles de Castelbajac clothing line and flagship storeopenings. The agreement with Itochu, which will commence for Autumn Winter 2006, will seethe launch of a new clothing line unique to the Japanese market. Under the termsof the new agreement, Itochu will pay JCC a design fee of 3% based on sales madein the territory with an annual minimum royalty which has been agreed over theinitial three year term as Euro 420,000 (£290,000). Itochu have also given further support to the roll out of JCC in Japan with acommitment to open two flagships stores, one in Kobe and the other in Tokyo. Thedesign of the stores will be based on the concept store in Paris with a launchdate of Autumn Winter 2006. Itochu already achieves retail sales of Euro 80 million (£55 million) on theexisting Castelbajac license agreement, and the design fee on these sales hasbeen increased to 2.5% of wholesale value (Euro 25 millions) as of 1 October2005. For further information, please contact: Marchpole Holdings plc020 7908 7700Greg Tufnell, Chief ExecutiveMichael Morris, Executive Director Buchanan Communications020 7466 5000Tim ThompsonNicola Cronk Notes to editors Marchpole is brand manager for six high quality labels: Emanuel Ungaro; Ungaro;Yves Saint Laurent; Boateng; Jean-Charles de Castelbajac ('JCC') andJean-Charles de Castelbajac / Rossignol. In June this year, Marchpole announced its results for the year ended 31 March2005, with turnover up 62% at £32.5 million and profit before tax up 79% at £4.7million. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange