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Retail

Hutchison owns the A S Watson Group (ASW), one of the best-known retail groups in Asia and the largest health and beauty retail group in the world. Its retail division has a portfolio of 19 retail brands, including some of the most famous high street names in Europe and Asia. The A S Watson Group operates over 7,900 outlets worldwide. Following the acquisition of Marionnaud, the largest perfumery and cosmetic retailer in France, the A S Watson Group has acquired the UK-based perfumery chain The Perfume Shop and the health & beauty chain Spektr in Russia. In 2006, ASW has acquired DC, the largest health & beauty retail chain in Ukraine.

A S Watson also manufactures and distributes a wide range of water and beverage brands in Asia and Europe.

EUROPEAN INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Health and Beauty Chains | Luxury Perfumeries and Cosmetics Retail Brands | Wine

In Europe, the A S Watson Group operates over 4,400 health and beauty outlets and over 1,600 luxury perfumeries and cosmetics stores under 12 brands covering 24 countries.

Health and Beauty Chains

Watsons Your Personal Store (Estonia and Slovenia)
Watsons Your Personal Store has adapted quickly to the varied and rapidly changing tastes within each market, proving its ability to cross cultural and geographic boundaries. Successful strategies have resulted in significant market penetration and the chain keeps expanding. Currently, Watsons operates in Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Macau, Korea, the Philippines, Turkey, Estonia and Slovenia.

     
DC (Ukraine)
DC is the largest and the only nationwide health and beauty retail chain in Ukraine. Established in 1997, DC has grown quickly to the current network of over 120 stores with 2,500 employees throughout the country. It is operated under the format of a convenience drugstore, offering a comprehensive mix of personal care and toiletry products.
  DC
     

Drogas (Latvia and Lithuania)
Drogas, acquired by A S Watson in June 2004, operates 70 stores in Latvia and has a 30 per cent share of the Latvian market. In 2001, the company was named "Best Retailer in Latvia" by the leading business newspaper Dienas Bizness.

Drogas opened its first store in Lithuania in 2001. It operates over 40 stores and is one of the fastest growing companies in the country.

 

Kruidvat (Netherlands, Belgium)
Kruidvat is a distinct market leader in the health and beauty sector in the Netherlands and one of the largest health and beauty retail chains in Belgium. Operating over 950 stores, Kruidvat is known for its unrivalled product range which combines high quality with highly competitive pricing. Kruidvat is also an industry innovator in retailing fast-moving non-cosmetic articles such as low-priced CDs, toys, decorative household items and photo services.

 

Rossmann (Germany, Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary)
Rossmann was founded in 1972 by Dirk Rossmann who opened the first health and beauty shop in Hannover, Germany. After the borders between East and West Europe were opened in the early 1990s, Rossmann started the Central Europe operation in Poland and thereafter expanded into Hungary and the Czech Republic. To date, the chain has a store network of over 1,800 stores. A S Watson has a joint venture partnership with Rossmann for its operation in four countries.

 

Savers (United Kingdom)
The Savers chain was founded in the United Kingdom in 1988 and was acquired by A S Watson in 2000 following its strong initial success. The chain operates on a mega discount format accentuated with simple store design, strong logistics and low operating cost. Savers' focus on fast-moving toiletries products has hit a chord within the marketplace, spurring a significant growth in store number over the past two years. Currently, it operates over 240 stores in the UK.

 

Superdrug (United Kingdom and Ireland)
Superdrug, one of the UK's leading health and beauty retailers, joined A S Watson in 2002.

Operating over 900 stores in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland, Superdrug has a high potential of growth and is expected to surge in the coming years. Superdrug in the UK is known as a value retailer through a mix of unbeatable offers and deals on a wide range of everyday essentials, branded products and Christmas gifts.

 

Trekpleister (Netherlands)
With over 130 stores, Trekpleister has a very strong position in the Dutch market. Trekpleister caters to the traditional health and beauty segment and combines a friendly store atmosphere with successful promotions. The chain's formula for success also includes an attractive range of general merchandise and private labels.

 

Spektr (Russia)
Spektr Group, established in 1990, is the market-leading health and beauty retail chain in St Petersburg, Russia. With over 40 stores and more than 500 employees, Spektr offers a comprehensive range of personal care, skincare, perfumery and cosmetics, and household products of local and international brands.

A S Watson's acquisition of Spektr in October 2005 marks an extension of the Group's retail network to Russia, the sixth largest economy in the world in terms of PPP (Purchase Power Parity).

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Luxury Perfumeries and Cosmetics Retail Brands

Marionnaud (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Morocco, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain and Switzerland)
Marionnaud, acquired by A S Watson in April 2005, is Europe's largest perfumeries and cosmetics retailer. Its reputation is built upon trust, which has driven it to become the leading perfumery chain in France, the home of fragrances, with a market share of 30 per cent. Its 1,220-plus stores stretch to 12 other countries, and it is the market leader in 10 of them.

 
ICI PARIS XL (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)
ICI PARIS XL was founded in Belgium in the late 1970's. It has become a leading perfumery chain in Belgium. ICI PARIS XL was established in the Netherlands in late 1997, and has grown at an amazing speed with at least one new store per month. The brand entered Luxembourg in 2003.
 

The Perfume Shop (United Kingdom and Ireland)
Founded in 1991, The Perfume Shop has developed a highly successful format in the UK fragrances sector. The business has grown consistently over the past five years, from 55 stores to over 160.

The Perfume Shop are located in both shopping centres and malls throughout the UK and Ireland, and sells over 300 different fragrance brands for men and women at affordable prices, online and at prime shopping locations.

Wine

Badaracco SA in Switzerland, one of the world's leading fine wine trading companies, is a member company of the A S Watson Group. The Company specialises in trading prestigious international wines.

 
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