DEARBORN, Mich. — August 30, 2018 —  Carhartt today launched a platform called “Carhartt for Workers” (CFW) to help close the skilled trades gap and advocate for skilled workers. Carhartt is working with four long-time partners for this initiative: Team Rubicon, SkillsUSA, Future Farmers of America and Helmets to Hardhats. Each of these organizations support skilled work in a variety of ways, from offering a pathway to a career in the trades, to engaging youth and veterans through education and training.

“Carhartt for Workers is how we will advocate for skilled workers by championing organizations that are working to close the skills gap, elevating the perception of a career in the trades, and advocating for the skilled workers’ way of life,” said Tony Ambroza, Carhartt’s chief brand officer. “Honoring and supporting workers is at the core of Carhartt; it’s very much who we are. Establishing an official platform to help close the skilled trades gap is an important next step in supporting our country’s hardest workers.”

Carhartt created CFW as a central platform for those who are interested in learning more about career opportunities and training in the skilled trades and agriculture industry. Its purpose is to connect people with organizations that can provide a pathway to a quality career as well as raise awareness nationally about the deep impact that the skills gap will have on our country if it continues to grow.

“The skills gap is real,” said Ambroza. “By one estimate, for every skilled worker entering the workforce, there are five who retire. As the industry leader in workwear, we are obligated to help the millions of hardworking people we serve every year find a rewarding path into the skilled trades by making it easier for them to learn about the training they need to secure quality careers.”

To kick off the CFW platform, Carhartt sent 500 “Thank You Crates” to members of its CFW partner organizations in recognition of all the hard work they do each day. The crates contain tokens of appreciation like safety eyewear, Carhartt hats, PAYDAY candy bars, a multi-tool, pencil/ruler kit, Stanley water bottle, Duke Cannon soap and much more. Additionally, each crate was sent with a personalized, handwritten letter of thanks from a Carhartt associate.

Posted August 30, 2018

Source Carhartt Inc.

SYDNEY — August 28, 2018 —  Naked Brand Group Ltd. has entered into a non-binding term sheet to receive a $25 million strategic investment from Sapinda Holding B.V., a European investment firm and owner of the globally recognized Italian luxury-lingerie firm La Perla.

If the investment contemplated by the term sheet is completed, it will provide unique operating synergies, investment capital that would support strategic acquisitions, as well as direct-to-consumer and eCommerce initiatives globally.

“We are pleased to announce the term sheet for a proposed $25 million strategic investment from Sapinda, owner of the globally recognized Italian luxury-lingerie firm La Perla, which we view as a validation of our operating model and strategy,” said Justin Davis Rice, CEO, Naked Brand Group. “If completed, this investment will provide us with additional capital to support our plans to complete accretive strategic acquisitions to better utilize our under-leveraged operating infrastructure. We have identified several attractive opportunities within the eCommerce and direct-to-consumer space that we believe have the potential to create notable shareholder value over the long term. I look forward to announcing new developments surrounding these strategic initiatives as appropriate,” concluded Davis Rice.

Established in 2009, Sapinda is a diversified global investment group focused on special situation investment opportunities across continental Europe, Africa, Middle-East and Asia.  In February 2018, Sapinda acquired 100 perecent of the shares of La Perla Global Management (UK) Ltd., the parent company of La Perla Group, a leading global luxury-fashion brand, rooted in lingerie. Founded in 1954 by Ada Masotti and now headquartered in London, La Perla is a global luxury-shopping brand employing more than 1,500 people in over 150 global locations, with flagship stores in all key metropolitan cities in America, Europe, the Middle-East and Asia and with over 140 million euros in FY2017 revenues.

“We have been looking at the luxury goods sector for a while and are delighted to have this opportunity to invest in Naked Brand Group,” said Lars Windhorst, co-founder and CEO of Sapinda. “Since the merger with Bendon, Justin and his team have a unique opportunity to continue to take the business forward. We expect to bring synergies across Naked and La Perla in terms of business intelligence through greater digitalization and shared knowledge across key product categories. We hope that our strategic investment, coupled with our expertise through La Perla, will help Naked to improve its global presence and enhance its position in the lingerie and swimwear industry,” concluded Windhorst.

About the Proposed Transaction

The proposed transaction contemplates an equity investment by Sapinda (or its affiliates or designees) in Naked through a private placement of up to 5,000,000 newly issued ordinary shares of the company for a price per share of $5.00. The Company will not issue to Sapinda New Shares representing in excess of 19.99 percent of the total issued ordinary shares of Naked. The issuance of the New Shares is expected to occur through a private placement exempted from registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The non-binding term sheet provides for the company to file a registration statement with the SEC within 30 days of the closing of the investment for purposes of registering the New shares. It further provides that, subject to the limit of 19.99 percent of the total issued ordinary shares of Naked, the number of new shares issued to Sapinda will be increased to the extent the volume weighted average price per share is lower than $5.00 during the 90 days after effectiveness of the registration statement. In addition, so long as Sapinda owns at least 19 percent of the total issued ordinary shares of Naked, the non-binding term sheet provides for Sapinda to have the right to designate one member of Naked’s board of directors.

The execution of the non-binding term sheet for the investment does not constitute a commitment on the part of Sapinda to invest in the company. Such investment is contingent on the parties agreeing on the terms of a definitive agreement relating to the investment. There can be no assurance that the company will enter into a definitive agreement for the investment, and even if it does, there can be no assurance that any necessary approvals for the investment will be obtained and any conditions to the investment will be satisfied or waived. Accordingly, there is no assurance that the proposed investment will ever occur.

This notice is not an offer to sell securities or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

Posted August 28, 2018

Source Naked Brand Group Limited

CARSON CITY, Nev./HONG KONG — August 28, 2018 —  12 ReTech Corp. announced today that its Emotion Fashion Brands, Inc’s Lexi-Luu Dancewear is to be sold in Asia. A distribution contract was recently signed between Emotion Fashion Brands Inc. and Global Outlets Group Inc., a U.S.-based distributor who successfully brings American manufactured products and brands to countries such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, China and Vietnam.

This contract will allow Global Outlets to sell Lexi-Luu branded merchandise in its distribution territories for four years. Global Outlets Group plans to sell $1 million of Lexi Luu Dancewear in the first year, the minimum annual merchandise purchase guaranteed is $500,000, with any unpurchased amount between $500,000 and $1 million being added to the second year’s minimum guarantee. The contract specifies a higher minimum purchase guarantee each year with the fourth year’s minimum purchase guarantee set at $10,000,000.

Lexi-Luu Dancewear is one of the micro brands that 12 ReTech acquired on May 1, 2018, as part of its Emotion Fashion Brands acquisition. Emotion Fashion now operates in Salt Lake City and is ramping up its manufacturing operations to be able to meet domestic and international demand. Recently, Utah was ranked third by CNBC in its “America’s Top States for Business 2018” scorecard which is part of the reason for the move from California.

Hub Blanchett, Emotion Apparel’s CEO, commented: “I am very pleased that Lexi-Luu Dancewear will be available to parents in a larger part of the world. We have brightened the smiles of children in the USA for many years, and now the time to bring our dancewear to the rest of the world has arrived.”

Angelo Ponzetta, 12 ReTech’s CEO, previously stated: “Lexi-Luu is a timeless brand of kid’s dancewear that is well recognized in the “dance world”. That our products are ‘Made in the USA’ has been well received by families with young children in our primary geographic market. Hub’s team has worked closely with us and because of that, we are now ready, ahead of schedule, to grow our sales and extend our brand awareness into worldwide consumer markets.”

Hub concluded: “Many demographics on foreign lands want to experience the American lifestyle. In the 70’s, for example, famous apparel brands such as Levi’s, Lee and Wrangler were sought out in the rest of the world and became iconic symbols of American culture. We think that American culture is resurging again and Emotion Fashions is ready to meet that need in the worldwide markets. The new contract was brought to us by the 12 ReTech team who operates internationally. Their reach is one of many reasons why we joined up with them. We never would have seen this opportunity without 12ReTech.”

Ponzetta concluded,” We are working hard on our 12 Technology Suite and expect to be able to announce additional strategic partnership(s) in the near future to bring value to our prospective retailers.

Posted August 28, 2018

Source 12 ReTech Corporation