During the spring, JC and representatives of its franchisee board worked jointly in order to enhance collaboration with the franchisees and create a more competitive mode of operations at JC. These efforts have led to an addendum to the current agreement, which virtually all individual franchisees have recently decided to accept. "Our franchisee chain is and will remain a major asset for JC and, with this agreement, we can combine the benefits generated by franchise operations and simultaneously act as effectively as if we were a wholly integrated chain," says Lea Rytz Goldman, President of JC. "This is a milestone in JC's continued development and something we have endeavored to achieve for a long time. It also demonstrates how we want to collaborate with franchisees in our other concepts," says Mikael Solberg, President and CEO of RNB. "JC's range and the response we have received from the market over the past few seasons have resulted in optimism and confidence among our members, thus creating this opportunity for closer collaboration with the franchiser. We are proud to have presented a draft agreement that benefits all parties and that, above all, makes us more competitive as a chain," says Peter Lundin, chairman of the franchisee board. For more information, please contact: Mikael Solberg, President and CEO, RNB RETAIL AND BRANDS, telephone: +46 (0)8-410 520 20, +46 (0)768-87 20 20, e-mail: mikael.solberg@rnb.se RNB RETAIL AND BRANDS owns, operates and develops fashion, clothing, accessories, jewelry and cosmetics stores that focus on providing excellent service and a world-class shopping experience. Sales are mainly conducted in Scandinavia through the three store concepts Brothers & Sisters, JC and Polarn O. Pyret, as well as through shops in the department stores NK in Stockholm and Gothenburg, and Illum in Copenhagen. RNB RETAIL AND BRANDS has operation in 11 countries. RNB RETAIL AND BRANDS has been listed on the OMX Nordic Exchange since 2001. [HUG#1444268] JC strengthens collaboration with franchisees: http://hugin.info/132993/R/1444268/388042pdf This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of Thomson Reuters clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that: (i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and (ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: RNB Retail and Brands AB via Thomson Reuters ONE