Riverfort Regulatory News (RGO)

8 Feb 2006 07:00

Caldwell Investments PLC08 February 2006 8 FEBRUARY 2006 CALDWELL INVESTMENTS PLC ('Caldwell Investments' or 'the Company') BOARD APPOINTMENT Outdoor furniture specialist joins as MD to launch NinaSun brand to UK and overseas markets The Board of Caldwell Investments, the AIM-Listed creators of the NinaSun canopyfor sensible Solar Protection, is pleased to announce the appointment of NeilRobert McGregor Gow to the Board as Managing Director, effective immediately. Neil, aged 47, joins Caldwell with over 30 years experience in the garden centreindustry, bringing with him considerable outdoor furniture expertise. Thisexpertise, together with his extensive contacts with key industry figures, willbe used to introduce the Group's NinaSun furniture range into independent gardencentres and enable it to gain a substantial foothold in the UK £400millionoutdoor furniture market. ((Sources: Ashridge Strategic Management / AMAResearch Limited). Neil joins the Caldwell Board from M & FG Thompstone, an independent group ofgarden centres, where he was responsible for sourcing products and marketing forthe member centres. Until January 2006 Neil was a Director of The Garden Centre Association Limited,the UK member of the world wide Garden Centres Association ("GCA"), which in theUK represents 160 independent members with a combined turnover in excess of£380million. Neil's international contacts made through the GCA will be used toestablish NinaSun's international sales, in the £10billion world market foroutdoor furniture (Sources: Ashridge Strategic Management). Neil was instrumental in establishing the Future Marketing Group ("FMG") in 1996where he was Marketing Chairman for ten years, and Partner, until January 2006.FMG has combined sales of £55million and comprises 18 independent GardenCentres. Neil remains a Director of Kingfisher Nurseries (Bromsgrove) Limited, a dormantcompany, and in addition Neil brings to Caldwell PLC experience from his time atquoted Wyevale Garden Centres Group plc. Neil has been granted 500,000 share options at an exercise price of 15p,exercisable between three and ten years following his appointment. Today's appointment follows separate recent news announcements regarding ordersfor the NinaSun products by mail order company Grattan - one of the UK's bigfive catalogue retailers, and 'House of Bath' - part of JD Williams & CompanyLimited, the UK's leading direct home shopping company. The NinaSun canopy for outdoor furniture is a unique portable protective canopythat reflects harmful UV rays, providing SPF10 protection while sitting out inthe sun. All of the products in the NinaSun furniture range come with detachablecanopies. Newly appointed Managing Director, Neil Gow, commented: "I am delighted to bejoining Caldwell at this exciting time in its development. My experience in theindustry has given me a substantial contact book and credibility amongst keyfigures, which I hope to utilise fully when rolling out the NinaSun range thisyear. In my 30 or so years in the sector I have never come across a productwith such vast market potential and scope, in the UK as well as overseas." Stanley Wootliff, Group Chairman, said: "Neil joins the Board of Caldwell with ademonstrable track record in the Garden Centre Industry. He will beinstrumental in taking the Company to the next stage of its development, helpingrecognise the full potential of the NinaSun range by unlocking his extensiveexperience and sector contacts, and we are confident that he will bring theNinaSun message to consumers." --ENDS-- Enquiries: Caldwell Investments plc 0113 235 0632Stanley Wootliff, ChairmanNeil Gow 0781 203 1281www.caldwellinvestmentsplc.com Bishopsgate Communications Ltd. 020 7430 1600Dominic Barretto 07930 450 156Fran Read 07952 356 889www.bishopsgatecommunications.com Williams de Broe 0113 243 1619Joanne Lakewww.wdebroe.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange