SHANGHAI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 19, 2012-- VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC)
today announced details on its goal to add
$1.1 billion in revenues to
its Asia Pacific business over the next five years. At an investor
meeting held in Shanghai, China, the company discussed its strategic
plans to reach $2.0 billion in revenues by 2017, primarily through
growth from its five largest brands in the region -
Timberland®,
Lee®,
The North Face®,
Vans® and
Kipling®. This represents an annual growth rate of 17 percent from 2012 forecasted revenues of approximately $900 million.
The company also confirmed its previous 2012 expectation given on
July 19 for revenues in Asia to increase about 20 percent, and for
revenues in Europe to grow at a low double-digit rate.
"Our Asia Pacific revenues have grown nearly five-fold since 2007 and
we continue to see tremendous opportunities for growth in all our
brands," said Eric Wiseman, VF Corporation Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer. "That's the power of VF's diversified global portfolio."
Aidan O'Meara, President, VF Asia Pacific, noted, "Our strategies for
growth in Asia Pacific - winning big in China, expanding our footprint
within other countries in the region, leveraging our scale and focusing
on our largest brands - give us confidence in our ability to reach
$2.0 billion in revenues by 2017 in this growing and dynamic market. VF has
invested heavily and consistently in consumer research in China, which
has helped us better understand Chinese consumers and position our
brands in a way that speaks to their desires and aspirations."
Karl Heinz Salzburger, Group President, VF International, provided a
longer-term view on VF's international mix of business. "In 2012, we
expect international sales to comprise about 37 percent of VF's total
revenues. With the addition of Timberland and the continued strong
growth expected in our Asia Pacific and European businesses, we now
believe international revenues could account for 45 percent of total
revenues by 2017."
Geographic Growth
The company expects substantial growth in each major Asia Pacific
country during the next five years. China currently comprises about half
of the region's total revenues, and is expected to account for 60
percent of total revenues by 2017, growing at an annual rate of
approximately 21 percent over the five-year period. Driving leadership
across four key categories -
outdoor, youth culture, jeanswear and
casual bags - VF expects to expand its door count in China from
approximately 2,300 currently to 6,000 by 2017.
India, where VF currently markets its
Lee®,
Wrangler® and, most recently, its
Vans®
brands, is expected to grow at an annual rate of 22 percent, and
increase from 8 percent to 10 percent of total Asia Pacific revenues by
2017. Revenues in Japan, strengthened by the addition of the
Timberland®
brand, are expected to grow at an annual rate of 8 percent over the
next five years. Korea, where VF announced that it is opening a new
subsidiary office, should represent the fastest-growing region, with
revenues expected to grow at an annual rate of 52 percent. The
subsidiary will initially support the
Vans® brand, with the expectation of adding the
Timberland® brand sometime in the middle of next year.
Brand Growth
During the meeting, VF executives provided an overview of five-year
growth targets and strategies for its largest brands in Asia.
The
Timberland® brand aspires to be the largest, most sustainable casual
outdoor lifestyle brand in Asia.
Timberland®,
currently VF's largest brand in the region, is targeting revenue growth
of $230 million in Asia Pacific over the next five years, with an
annual growth rate of 13 percent. The brand's growth strategies include
leveraging consumer insights to strengthen its position with consumers,
leading in sustainability and community engagement, and building its
spring and summer women's and direct-to-consumer businesses.
The
Lee® brand's Asia Pacific vision is to
be the iconic premium denim brand of choice for a new Asian generation.
The brand expects to grow its business in the region by $150 million
over the next five years, with a 12 percent annual growth rate.
Continued investments in consumer research, innovative localization,
growing the brand's women's business and expanding door distribution are
expected to fuel the
Lee® brand's growth.
The North Face® brand aims to be the
indisputable leader in Asia's
outdoor market, and the category-defining
brand that inspires and enables a movement to explore the outdoors. The
brand expects to grow its Asia Pacific revenues by $340 million over the
next five years, representing an annual growth rate of 26 percent. The
brand will benefit from very strong growth in the outdoor category, with
key strategies for growth including grassroots outdoor community
engagement, growing brand awareness with its core "aspiring adventurer"
consumer, expanded door distribution, brand-relevant localization and
digital innovation.
The
Vans® brand seeks to be the number one
action sports and youth culture brand in Asia, helping consumers
embrace, elevate and unlock their creative self expression. During the
next five years, the
Vans® brand anticipates adding $200
million to its Asia Pacific business, with a 22 percent annual growth
rate. Growth is expected to come from leveraging the brand's
authenticity and deep connectivity with youth culture, focusing on its
skate and music brand pillars, expanding its direct-to-consumer business
and delivering locally relevant product innovation.
The
Kipling® brand aims to be the clear
market leader and a growth catalyst for the premium
casual bags and
accessories market in the Asia Pacific region. Over the next five years,
the brand expects to add $80 million in revenues in the region,
representing an annual growth rate of 18 percent. Accelerated
investments in marketing and story-telling to connect with its core
consumers, combined with an expanding network of retail stores, will
support the brand's growth.
Additional Presenters and Presentation Materials
Additional presenters from VF included: Tom Glaser - Vice President,
VF Corporation, President Supply Chain; Bruno Feltracco - Vice
President, Managing Director,
Outdoor and Action Sports Coalition, Asia;
Jacob Uhland - General Manager, Asia Pacific,
The North Face®; Lu Guo - Asia Pacific Strategy Director; Stewart Whitney - General Manager, Asia Pacific,
Timberland®;
Mitch Whitaker - General Manager, Action Sports Asia; Carmen Cheng -
Vice President and Managing Director, Jeanswear Asia Pacific; and Kevin
Yeung - General Manager, Asia Pacific,
Kipling® and
Eastpak®.
Presentation materials and a transcript of the event will be made
available in the investor relations section of VF Corporation's website (
http://www.vfc.com/) and an event specific microsite (
http://www.vfinchina.com/) within a few hours of the conclusion of the meeting.
About VF
VF Corporation is a global leader in branded lifestyle apparel and
footwear with more than 30 brands. The company's largest five brands are
The North Face®,
Wrangler®,
Timberland®,
Vans®, and
Lee®. Other brands include
7 For All Mankind®,
Bulwark®,
Eagle Creek®,
Eastpak®,
Ella Moss®,
JanSport®,
Kipling®,
lucy®,
Majestic®,
Napapijri®,
Nautica®,
Red Kap®,
Reef®,
Riders®,
Splendid® and
Smartwool®. For more information, please visit
http://www.vfc.com/.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements included in this release and the attachments are
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal
securities laws. Forward-looking statements are made based on our
expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting VF and
therefore involve a number of risks and uncertainties. You can identify
these statements by the fact that they use words such as "will,"
"anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "should," and "may" and other words
and terms of similar meaning or use of future dates. We caution that
forward-looking statements are not guarantees and that actual results
could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the
forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties that could
cause the actual results of operations or financial condition of VF to
differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking
statements in this release include, but are not limited to, the level of
consumer confidence and overall level of consumer demand for apparel;
fluctuations in the price, availability and quality of raw materials and
contracted products; disruption to VF's distribution system; disruption
and volatility in the global capital and credit markets; VF's reliance
on a small number of large customers; the financial strength of VF's
customers; VF's response to changing fashion trends; increasing pressure
on margins; VF's ability to implement its growth strategy; VF's ability
to grow its international and direct-to-consumer businesses; VF's
ability to successfully integrate and grow acquisitions, including the
Timberland acquisition; VF's ability to maintain the strength and
security of its information technology systems; stability of VF's
manufacturing facilities and foreign suppliers; continued use by VF's
suppliers of ethical business practices; VF's ability to accurately
forecast demand for products; continuity of members of VF's management;
VF's ability to protect trademarks and other intellectual property
rights; maintenance by VF's licensees and distributors of the value of
VF's brands; foreign currency fluctuations; and legal, regulatory,
political and economic risks in international markets. More information
on potential factors that could affect VF's financial results is
included from time to time in VF's public reports filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including VF's Annual Report on Form
10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
Source: VF Corporation
Investor Relations Contacts:VF Services / Cindy Knoebel, CFA / VP, Corporate Relations
336-424-6189/212-841-7141
or
Lance Allega /Director, Investor Relations / 336-424-6082
Media Contact:Carole Crosslin / Director, Corporate Communications / 336-424-7836
