Global Apparel Markets: Business Update, 3rd Quarter 2012 Edition

SUMMARY

ACQUISITIONS, DIVESTMENTS AND MERGERS

Arvind Lifestyle Brands has acquired the franchise rights in India for Debenhams, Nautica and Next
Teijin Limited will merge its NI Teijin Shoji and Teijin Fibers Divisions and launch a new company called Teijin Frontier

COMPANY RESTRUCTURING

Levi Strauss & Co will phase out its Denizen brand in Asia

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR)

Clariant International has launched a new service called One Way for textile mills, brands and retailers
Gap plans to implement a building and fire safety action plan at the factories of its suppliers in Bangladesh
H&M has called for higher wages for workers in the Bangladeshi textile and apparel industry
H&M has placed a ban on the use of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in the manufacture of its products
The Sustainable Apparel Coalition has launched the Higg Index

EVENTS

Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics was held during October 23-25, 2012, at the Shanghai
New International Exhibition Centre in Shanghai, China

FINANCIAL RESULTS

Abercrombie & Fitch: net sales increased by 4% but net income fell by 52% in the second quarter of 2012/13
Asos: group revenues rose by 31% thanks to strong international sales in the fourth quarter of 2011/12
Gap: net sales and net income increased in the second quarter of 2012/13
Gildan Activewear: net sales rose by 13.3% but net earnings fell by 10.8% in the third quarter of 2011/12
Outlook
H&M: sales and gross profit increased in the first nine months of 2011/12
Third quarter 2011/12
First nine months of 2011/12
Inditex: net income rose by 32% as net sales increased by 17% in the first half of 2012/13
JC Penney: a net loss was incurred in the second quarter of 2012/13 due to restructuring charges
Levi Strauss & Co: net income fell by 37% as net revenues declined by 4% in the second quarter of 2011/12
Marks and Spencer (M&S): sales fell by 0.7% in the first quarter of 2012/13
Perry Ellis International: total revenues declined by 2.3% in the second quarter of 2012/13
Outlook
TJX Companies: net sales and net income increased in the second quarter of 2012/13

INTERNATIONAL TRADE POLICY

The European Parliament has granted emergency trade preferences to Pakistan
The Indian government has approved a bill allowing 51% foreign ownership in multi-brand retailing
The Indian government has removed restrictions on the origin of fabric contained in duty-free imports of 5 mn ready-made garments from Sri Lanka

INVESTMENTS

JP Morgan Asset Management will invest US$45 mn in Dafiti, a Brazilian online fashion retailer

JOINT VENTURES, COOPERATION, LICENSING AND DISTRIBUTION

Arcadia Group has entered into an agreement with Nordstrom relating to its Topshop and Topman brands
Lipsy has entered into a franchise agreement with Brand Marketing India (BMI) relating to Lipsy branded apparel
PPR and Yoox have formed a joint venture company to manage online stores for five of PPR's luxury brands
The University of Manchester and Beyond Surface Technologies have entered into a licensing agreement to commercialise a new formaldehyde-free finishing technology
The Cherokee Group and Max have signed an exclusive licensing agreement relating to the Cherokee brand in the Middle East and Africa

MANUFACTURING FACILITIES

Aditya Birla has announced plans to set up a 180,000 tons per annum viscose staple fibre plant in Turkey
Lenzing has invested in a new facility for making Tencel lyocell on the same site as its headquarters in Austria

MARKETS

EU clothing imports fell in value and volume in the first half of 2012
US clothing imports fell in value and volume in the first seven months of 2012

NEW STORES

Arcadia Group will open its first Topshop and Topman store in South Africa
Debenhams has opened a new store in Indonesia and plans to open its first store in Estonia
Fast Retailing is planning to open 1,000 stores in China over the next ten years
Fast Retailing will set up a subsidiary in Australia
H&M has opened its first stores in Malaysia and Thailand
H&M will open its first store in South America
Marks and Spencer (M&S) has opened its first store in Kazakhstan

ONLINE RETAILING

Inditex has launched an online Zara store for consumers in China