BajaNews - 11-30-2006 at 03:34 PM
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_1...
November 30, 2006
By HANG NGUYEN and MARY ANN MILBOURN
The surf's up in Mexico for Quiksilver Inc., as the Huntington Beach manufacturer announced on Wednesday a joint venture with PBM International to
sell its products south of the border.
PBM will help the company market, sell and distribute Quiksilver- and Roxy-branded products through company-owned stores, licensed retail outlets and
various retailers.
Quiksilver said the Mexican market, particularly the high-end surfing and travel destinations on the coasts of Baja and the mainland, is "highly
attractive."
Quiksilver, with other brands that include DC Shoes and Rossignol, provides clothing and equipment to surfers, skateboarders and snowboarders.
PBM International is a branded and licensed apparel marketing and distribution company in Mexico. It distributes footwear, apparel and accessories
under the names Le Coq Sportif, Arena and FIFA.
Quiksilver will hold a majority stake in the joint venture.
This venture builds on Quiksilver's strategy to own and operate its business in key territories.
The Quiksilver brand originated in Australia in 1969, and Robert McKnight Jr. became the licensee for the United States in 1976. The U.S. business has
slowly been gaining control of the brand. Ten years ago, it bought the European operation, and two years ago, McKnight, Quiksilver's chief executive,
purchased the international trademark from the Australian founders.
In 2002, Quiksilver bought the Australian and Japanese companies that operate the Quiksilver brand in much of the Pacific Rim.
In June, Quiksilver formed a joint venture with clothing retailer Sprandi International Ltd. to sell its Quiksilver and Roxy brands in Russia.