Quiksilver Inc : Quiksilver, Inc. Announces Russian Joint Venture
06/27/2006| 08:30am US/Eastern

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Quiksilver, Inc. (NYSE: ZQK) today announced that, in
Partnership with Sprandi International Ltd., it has created a joint
venture with the exclusive rights to design, manufacture, market and
distribute Quiksilver and Roxy branded products in Russia. The joint
venture will be responsible for establishing a Russian distribution
network of company-owned retail stores as well as a sizeable wholesale
business that will include licensed retail stores, large key accounts
and small independent retail chains.
This venture, which replaces a former license and distributorship
agreement, builds on the Company's strategy to own and operate its
business in key territories. The Company believes that the Russian
market is increasingly vibrant and that its brands have a strong,
resonant message and considerable untapped potential with Russian
consumers. The Company will hold a majority stake in the joint
venture, which it expects to further its reputation as one of the
leading outdoor lifestyle brands in the world. Sprandi is a leading
sports and outdoor lifestyle company in Russia and Eastern Europe
specializing in footwear, apparel and accessories
Bernard Mariette, President of Quiksilver, Inc., commented, "We
are very excited about this initiative, which will expand the growth
opportunity for our core business. Russia's young people are
increasingly linked to the global youth culture, and the market has
excellent potential. The boardriding lifestyle and its ties to music
and other aspects of popular western culture have begun to see a
massive expansion in Russia. We are confident that, with a strong
track record and a clear understanding of the local market, that
Sprandi International has proven itself to be the right partner. As we
go forward, we believe that a strong business in Russia will serve as
a model and, potentially, as an operating platform to grow our
business in a variety of other attractive markets throughout Eastern
Europe."
Dinesh Sahani, Founder and CEO of Sprandi International Ltd.
Moscow, stated, "We will leverage our Company's wide experience in
successfully planning and building a sport-footwear and apparel brand
in Russia to create a strong presence for the Quiksilver and Roxy
brands. Our capability for execution in design, manufacturing, and
marketing, as well as our specific expertise in the Russian market
should ensure our place as a market leader and our financial success
in the future. The Russian consumer market is very strong, and we
believe that both Quiksilver and Roxy have enormous potential for our
young consumers."
About Quiksilver:
Quiksilver, Inc. (NYSE:ZQK) is the world's leading outdoor sports
lifestyle company, which designs, produces and distributes a
diversified mix of branded apparel, wintersports and golf equipment,
footwear, accessories and related products. The Company's apparel and
footwear brands represent a casual lifestyle for young-minded people
that connect with its boardriding culture and heritage, while its
wintersports and golf brands symbolize a long standing commitment to
technical expertise and competitive success on the mountains and on
the links.
The reputation of Quiksilver's brands is based on different
outdoor sports. The Company's Quiksilver, Roxy, DC Shoes and Hawk
brands are synonymous with the heritage and culture of surfing,
skateboarding and snowboarding, and its beach and water oriented
swimwear brands include Raisins, Radio Fiji and Leilani. The
Rossignol, Dynastar, Lange, Look and Kerma brands are leaders in the
alpine ski market, and the Company makes snowboarding equipment under
its Rossignol, Dynastar, DC Shoes, Roxy, Lib Technologies, Gnu and
Bent Metal labels. The Company's golf business includes Cleveland
Golf, as well as Never Compromise putters and Fidra apparel. Gotcha is
the Company's surf-based European brand addressing street fashion.
The Company's products are sold in over 90 countries in a wide
range of distribution, including surf shops, ski shops, skateboard
shops, snowboard shops, its proprietary Boardriders Club shops, other
specialty stores and select department stores. Quiksilver's corporate
and Americas' headquarters are in Huntington Beach, California, while
its European headquarters are in St. Jean de Luz and Voiron, France,
and its Asia/Pacific headquarters are in Torquay, Australia.
NOTE: For further information about Quiksilver, Inc., you are
invited to take a look at our world at www.quiksilver.com,
www.roxy.com, www.dcshoecousa.com, www.quiksilveredition.com,
www.hawkclothing.com, www.rossignol.com, www.dynastar.com,
www.clevelandgolf.com, and www.fidragolf.com.
About Sprandi:
Sprandi is a leading sports footwear & apparel brand in Russia
operating since 1995. The company designs, produces, distributes and
retails Sport and Outdoor footwear & clothing under the Sprandi and
Earth Gear brands respectively.
Sprandi's products are distributed through 90 Sprandi mono-branded
Shops in Russia, and various other channels of distribution.
Categories such as Running, Soccer, Tennis, Fitness, Motion, Lifestyle
& Basics are covered under the Sprandi brand, and under Earth Gear the
core categories are Extreme Conditions, Adventure, Water & Urban.
www.sprandi.com
© Business Wire 2006
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