Acquisition

RNS Number:0562R
SP Holdings PLC
20 October 2003

                                                                 20 October 2003



SP HOLDINGS PLC ACQUIRES RETAIL & FASHION BRAND CONSULTANCY


SP Holdings PLC ('The Company'), the marketing and financial services company,
announces the acquisition of the goodwill and assets of 'Observebrands', a
specialist retail and fashion brand consultancy.  Observebrands clients include
fashion brands Melka Gold, 'G' Collection by Gabicci, Jenny Hellstrom, and
Controversial People of Honour.



The business will be incorporated into a new subsidiary, 'SP Brands Ltd', to
complement the Company's marketing services activities in the sports and
entertainment sectors.  SP Brands will be run by the creator of Observebrands,
Kevin Stone, formerly UK Sales Director of leading fashion retailer, Ben
Sherman.  It will work closely with SP Active Ltd, the Company's lead marketing
services subsidiary, to further develop its retail merchandise, licensing and
intellectual property business in the sports and entertainment sectors.



Commenting on the deal, SP Holdings Director, Tony Simpson, said:

'Kevin Stone and Observebrands bring proven experience in creating, launching
and distributing brands in the retail and fashion sectors, greatly strengthening
our retail and IP activities in the sports and entertainment sectors.  SP Brands
will be highly complementary to our approach to actively contributing to the
bottom-line returns of our clients through brand extension into new retail
environments.'



                                    - ENDS -


Enquiries:


SP Holdings PLC                                        Telephone:  [phone]
Tony Simpson, Director


Hudson Sandler                                         Telephone:  [phone]
Nick Lyon



Notes to Editors:



* SP HOLDINGS PLC operates two divisions; SP Active Limited ("SPA"), its
  marketing subsidiary and both SP Financial Services and Mottram Partners, its
  subsidiaries in the area of financial services.



* In recent weeks SPA has announced the following:



-          SPA was appointed by JVC to develop third-party relationships for the
           Euro 2004 Football Championships in July 2003.



-          SPA was appointed to develop and manage the commercial development of
           'Beagle 2 Mission to Mars' in July 2003.



-          The acquisition of Chris Reed Marketing Ltd was announced on 1 August
           2003.


Observebrands

Observebrands was created by Kevin Stone to offer a new approach to brand
observation, creation, consultancy, distributorship, marketing and licensing in
the fashion and retail sector.



Previously, Kevin Stone was UK Sales Director of Ben Sherman, before which he
was European Sales & Marketing Director of Fred Perry.  He started his career at
Next plc.



Clients of Observebrands include:



GABICCI - Re-position the brand from design concept, through to marketing and
positioning documentation - brand bible, look book, briefing freelance design
consultancy, changing perception of the consumer through new distribution
channels. Setting up of a new sales team.



MELKA GOLD - Previously carried by Vox Textiles (Stockholm) who also market
Nudie, Paul Frank, Evisu & Gsus.



Gold received a great reaction from leading fashion stores throughout
Scandinavia in Autumn 2003, it is now back in-house at parent company Melka
(Gothenburg), offering jackets for men and women, alongside the shirts.



Observebrands will be launching the S/S'04 Gold collection in the UK looking to
repeat the success of Scandinavia.  The brand has fantastic iconic stature and
heritage with archives full of old styles, sketches, fabrics and patterns.



JENNY HELLSTROM - Observebrands is leading the UK launch of Jenny Hellstrom.
Jenny launched the collection in Scandinavia in 1998 offering a clean, urban
style comprising basic shapes and a futuristic interpretation of 50's, 60's &
70's fashion. Inspired by music - mostly funk and soul, furniture design,
architecture and urban landscapes.



'Arc' (Manchester) has carried the label for sometime attracting a cult
following, global stockists also include: cutting edge stores throughout
Scandinavia, Japan, Italy, Germany, Canada and Iceland.



Observebrands will be taking the following collections into 25 niche retailers
over the next two seasons from Spring 2004.

Jenny Hellstrom mainline with basic collar shapes and interesting details
Naked by Jenny Hellstrom the underwear line with funky patterns and prints in
comfortable materials
Jenny Hellstrom Nerve the edgy exclusive part of the collection


CPH - Controversial People of Honour

Observebrands has joined forces with designers and friends Stephen Burrell &
Allan Ostgaard to launch their new and controversial streetwear brand CPH in the
UK.



CPH is based around a new generation of young urban people who identify
themselves more with a style rather than a brand, an environment more than a
shop, a look more than a item of clothing.  The look is based on the graphic
expression of the social icons that we live with: music, sports, videogames,
technology and social affairs, catering for men and women.




                      This information is provided by RNS
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