MPH.L Regulatory News (MPH)

1 Jun 2006 07:01

Marchpole Holdings PLC01 June 2006 Marchpole Holdings plc ("Marchpole" or "the Group") Subsidiary Jean Charles de Castelbajac Shop in shop agreement with Galleries Lafayette Marchpole Holdings plc, the fast growing fashion brand management group, ispleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary Jean Charles de Castelbajac("JCC") has signed a contract with Galleries Lafayette to open a 'shop-in-shop'in the landmark Galleries Lafayette department store on Boulevard Hausman inParis. The agreement will see clothes and accessories from the JCC range being sold in350 sq feet of store space in the iconic Parisian store from July 2006. Thisagreement follows JCC's major new licence agreement with OKAIDI Group, announcedin May 2006, and is another significant step in the development of the brand,following Marchpole's acquisition of JCC in 2004. In addition to enhancing thereputation of the JCC brand, the opening will broaden the reach of the brand andincrease the turnover of JCC. Group Galleries Lafayette, one of France's largest retailers, has 61 "GalleriesLafayette" stores throughout France. In 2005, the Group made over €4,943.6million in sales. The Group's flagship Boulevard Hausman department storehouses a wide range of international luxury brands. Michael Morris, executive Deputy Chairman of Marchpole, commented: "I'mdelighted with this latest development for Jean Charles de Castelbajac whichwill increase the brand's presence and reputation in a key target market. Theagreement underlines Marchpole's commitment to growing our business andextending the reach of our brands." - ends - For further information: Emma Kent, Bell Pottinger Corporate & Financial: 0207 861 3232 John Harrison, Finance Director, Marchpole: 0207 908 7777 Notes to Editors - Marchpole Holdings plc ("Marchpole") is an international brand management group that designs, produces and sells clothing and accessories for seven world class fashion labels. It operates in all of the world's main markets - UK, mainland Europe, Asia and the USA - Its respected brands include YSL, Boateng, Emmanuel Ungaro, Ungaro, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac ("JCC"), Jean-Charles de Castelbajac / Rossignol and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac / Okaidi - Incorporated in 1973, Marchpole listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1997 and has the ticker symbol MPH - 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 most recent 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 also allows 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