MPH.L Regulatory News (MPH)

12 Mar 2007 07:04

Marchpole Holdings PLC12 March 2007 MARCHPOLE HOLDINGS PLC ("Marchpole" or "the Company") Significant Contract Wins For Subsidiary Jean Charles de Castelbajac Expansion of International Reach Of Marchpole Marchpole Holdings plc, (LSE: MPH), the fast growing fashion brand managementgroup, is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, Jean Charles deCastelbajac ("JCC") has signed two significant long-term distributionagreements. The agreements are with the Dubai based, The Chalhoub Group("Chalhoub" or "the Group") and the Russian based, The Crocus Group ("Crocus").Alongside these agreements the Company has also opened a further JCC flagshipstore in France, increasing the brand footprint. An exclusive agreement has been signed with The Chalhoub Group for an initialperiod of five years, to distribute clothing and accessories from the JCC rangethroughout the Middle East. Chalhoub, which has promoted luxury lifestyleproducts in the Middle East for over 50 years, will develop and promote anetwork of free-standing shops and also franchise opportunities for the JCCbrand across its entire distribution portfolio. The Group specialises in therepresentation, distribution, marketing and retailing of over 200 brandsincluding Ralph Lauren, Celine, Marc Jacobs, Chaumet and Van Cleef and Arpels.Under the terms of the agreement, the contract is renewable for a further period of five years. Alongside the agreement with The Chalhoub Group, Marchpole has also signed anexclusive contract with the leading Russian retail distribution group, Crocus toestablish a 150 square metre JCC flagship store in the Crocus City Mall inMoscow. In addition, JCC clothing will be retailed in at least two furtherfashion outlets in the Mall during the first year of the partnership. The Crocus Group is one of the leading luxury goods distributors in Russia and works with over 200 fashion houses including Celine, Chloe and Emilio Pucci. Additionally, an exclusive JCC flagship store has been opened in Lyon, France'ssecond city. The store is located in the "Golden Triangle", the premier designer shopping area of the city, and will offer only the most current and high fashion designs from the JCC range. This partnership agreement is initially for four years and has minimum guarantees. Marchpole Holdings Executive Deputy Chairman, Michael Morris commented:"I am delighted to announce today's landmark deals with two leading longestablished distribution businesses in the lucrative Middle Eastern and Russianmarkets, as well as the opening of yet another flagship store in France. Sincewe acquired the Jean Charles de Castelbajac brand in 2004, we have madesignificant steps in the development of the brand and these partnerships are afurther endorsement of the strength of the JCC brand in the internationalfashion arena. The agreements underline our Board's commitment to an organicgrowth strategy and ongoing programme to extend the international reach of ourportfolio of fashion brands. We look forward to long and successful partnerships with both The Chalhoub and Crocus Groups, and we will also continue to evaluate additional agreements in other important markets." - ends - For further information, please contact: Bell Pottinger Corporate & Financial Tel: 020 7861 3232David Rydell/Emma Kent / Amy Rajendran Marchpole Holdings plc Tel: 020 7908 7777Michael Morris, Executive ChairmanJohn Harrison, Finance Director Note to Editors: • Marchpole Holdings plc ("Marchpole") is an international brand management group that designs, produces and sells clothing and accessories for seven globally recognised fashion labels. It operates in all of the world's main markets - UK, mainland Europe, Middle East, Asia and the USA • Its respected brands include Boateng, Emmanuel Ungaro, Ungaro, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac ("JCC"), Jean-Charles de Castelbajac / Rossignol, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac/Okaidi and Homebody • Marchpole is renowned for its integrated approach to brand management, taking a brand from concept to design studio to the customer interface. It is not a clothing manufacturer • The Group has grown considerably in the past 3 years, from a licensee with one core license (YSL menswear) - to today's international business that manages its brands across a multitude of clothing lines and accessories • Marchpole's acquisition (March 2006) of Moda America - the US licensee for leading designer Emanuel Ungaro - brings further growth opportunities in the UK and America and strengthens the company's relationship with Ungaro • The acquisition also allows the company to launch the Ungaro brand, already established by Marchpole in Europe and Asia, into the US, Canada and South America. The acquisition has also enabled the company to re-launch JCC into America with effect from autumn/winter 2006 • Marchpole will launch the diffusion Ungaro Homme collection in the UK from Spring/Summer 2007 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange