MPH.L Regulatory News (MPH)

7 Sep 2007 07:00

Marchpole Holdings PLC07 September 2007 MARCHPOLE HOLDINGS PLC ("Marchpole" or "the Company") New Licence and Distribution Agreement First Licence and Distribution Agreements For Emanuel Ungaro and Ungaro Homme in South America Marchpole Holdings plc, (LSE: MPH), the fast growing fashion brand managementgroup, is pleased to announce the first long term licence and distributionagreements for Emanuel Ungaro and Ungaro Homme in South America. These agreements have been signed with the leading Colombian menswear retailerand manufacturer, TEXTRON SA ('Textron') for an initial period of five years,extendable for a further five years. Under the terms of the agreements, Textronwill manufacture the Ungaro Homme formal wear range and will also purchaseUngaro Homme casual wear from Marchpole to augment the formal wear range. Bothranges will be distributed through TEXTRON's 28 wholly owned retail stores,"Villa Romana". In addition Marchpole will also supply Textron with a full range of EmanuelUngaro menswear to be distributed through a new Emanuel Ungaro flagship store inBogota, the capital of Colombia. This new store will be designed to adopt a'lifestyle destination concept', another first for the Emanuel Ungaro brand, andit is expected to open in November 2007. Michael Morris, Marchpole Executive Deputy Chairman commented: "We are delightedto sign this agreement with TEXTRON. We have known the company for many years asthe successful Colombian licencee for the Yves Saint Laurent menswear diffusionline. It is therefore wholly appropriate for us to collaborate with TEXTRON tolaunch the Emanuel Ungaro menswear range into South America, and furtherendorses the Board's strategic decision to use the Ungaro menswear range as asuccessful replacement for our former YSL licence. We value the partnership withTEXTRON as another important step towards the international expansion ofMarchpole into lucrative markets such as South America, and we look forward to along and successful partnership with the company." - ends - For further information, please contact: Bell Pottinger Corporate & Financial 020 7861 3232David Rydell/Emma Kent/Amy Rajendran Marchpole Holdings plc 020 7908 7777Michael Morris, Executive Deputy ChairmanJohn Harrison, Finance Director Note to Editors: - Marchpole Holdings plc ("Marchpole") is an international brandmanagement group that designs, produces and sells clothing and accessories forten globally recognised fashion labels. It operates in all of the world's mainmarkets - UK, mainland Europe, Middle East, Asia and the USA - Its respected brands include Boateng, Emanuel Ungaro, Ungaro Homme,Jean Charles de Castelbajac ("JCC"), Jean Charles de Castelbajac / Rossignol,Jean Charles de Castelbajac/Okaidi, Jean Charles de Castelbajac / New Era, JCDC/Lee Cooper and Homebody and Homemummy - Marchpole is renowned for its integrated approach to brandmanagement, taking a brand from concept to design studio to the customerinterface. - The Group has grown considerably in the past four years, from alicensee with one core licence (YSL menswear) - to today's internationalbusiness that manages its brands across a multitude of clothing lines andaccessories - Marchpole's acquisition (March 2006) of Moda America - the USlicensee for leading designer Emanuel Ungaro - provided further growthopportunities in the UK and America and strengthened the Company's relationshipwith Ungaro - The acquisition also enabled the Company to launch the Ungaro brand,already established by Marchpole in Europe and Asia, into the US, Canada andSouth America. The acquisition has also enabled the Company to re-launch JCCinto America. - In March 2007 Marchpole acquired 100% of Greenmark Limited, animporter and wholesaler of ladies shoes who currently supply in excess of 2.5million pairs of shoes per annum. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange