New Zealand Professional Investment Services Firm

Forsyth Barr

We are proud to be a New Zealand owned firm, with 21 offices throughout the country and over 300 employees. We assist personal, institutional and corporate clients providing a full range of investment services.

Forsyth Barr is a foundation New Zealand Exchange firm (NZX) and accredited market participant. We have been confirmed by the Financial Markets Authority as a Qualifying Financial Entity (QFE).

Research is the cornerstone of our advice. We have one of New Zealand's leading teams of analysts. Our global affiliations ensure comprehensive research coverage of all major investment markets.

New Zealand Professional Investment Services Firm, Forsyth Barr

Equity Bottom-Up

<h2>KMD Brands (KMD) Name Change and Refreshed Corporate Strategy</h2>
KMD Brands (KMD) the company formally known as Kathmandu Holdings has today officially started trading under its new name and reiterated its refreshed corporate strategy, consistent with that outlined at its Investor Day in November 2021, and vision “to be the leading family of global outdoor brands – designed for purpose, driven by innovation, best for people and planet”.
Snippets from the release:
<ul>
<li>“The corporate strategy consists of four key pillars - building global brands, elevating digital, leveraging operational excellence, and showcasing leadership in ESG – which are designed to support KMD’s growth as a brand-led global multi-channel business.”</li>
<li>“We [KMD] are building global brands, including growing Rip Curl in North America, and making it the preeminent surf brand in Australasia. We [KMD] are launching Kathmandu into North America and Europe highlighting its Australasian heritage and harnessing the specialist leadership and values that Oboz is known for in North America to grow into Australasia and then Europe.”</li>
<li>“A focus on improving digital execution by investing in whole-of-group platforms that support unified customer experience and commerce operations is a key feature of the KMD Brands’ strategy. This is supported by the launch of new [Club Rip Curl] and improved [Summit Club] loyalty programs to allow personalised communications.”</li>
</ul>
Our view
We continue to have a positive view on KMD’s shift from a single-brand retailer to a global house of brands. Though the pandemic has made it difficult to gauge how the business will trade when Kathmandu, Rip Curl and Oboz are all operating without pandemic/supply chain related disruptions.&nbsp;

KMD Brands (KMD) Name Change and Refreshed Corporate Strategy
KMD Brands (KMD) the company formally known as Kathmandu Holdings has today officially started trading under its new name and reiterated its refreshed corporate strategy, consistent with that outlined at its Investor Day in November 2021, and vision “to be the leading family of global outdoor brands – designed for purpose, driven by innovation, best for people and planet”.
Snippets from the release:

“The corporate strategy consists of four key pillars - building global brands, elevating digital, leveraging operational excellence, and showcasing leadership in ESG – which are designed to support KMD’s growth as a brand-led global multi-channel business.”
“We [KMD] are building global brands, including growing Rip Curl in North America, and making it the preeminent surf brand in Australasia. We [KMD] are launching Kathmandu into North America and Europe highlighting its Australasian heritage and harnessing the specialist leadership and values that Oboz is known for in North America to grow into Australasia and then Europe.”
“A focus on improving digital execution by investing in whole-of-group platforms that support unified customer experience and commerce operations is a key feature of the KMD Brands’ strategy. This is supported by the launch of new [Club Rip Curl] and improved [Summit Club] loyalty programs to allow personalised communications.”

Our view
We continue to have a positive view on KMD’s shift from a single-brand retailer to a global house of brands. Though the pandemic has made it difficult to gauge how the business will trade when Kathmandu, Rip Curl and Oboz are all operating without pandemic/supply chain related disruptions.&nbsp;

KMD Brands (KMD): Name Change and Refreshed Corporate Strategy