Premium Japanese Denim Brand to be Represented by Leading Brand Licensing Agency

April 22, 2013, London, U.K., – BIG JOHN, Japan’s first domestic denim brand, today announced plans to extend the brand in Asia, working with leading global brand licensing agency, Beanstalk.

Established in Japan in 1940, BIG JOHN launched the first genuine Japanese denim fabric and fashion jeans developed after the founder, Koptaro Ozaki, visited the US and saw the huge potential for denim in the Japanese market. The brand was also the first commercially washed denim jean in the market, and today is one of Japan’s leading denim lifestyle brands, worn by style leaders who value the brand’s rich heritage and contemporary styling. Grace Mind, Asia’s leading brand management, distribution and licensing company with unrivaled market coverage in Greater China, is BIG JOHN’s master licensee.

Beanstalk plans to extend the brand across Northern Asia, with an initial emphasis on China, Hong Kong and South Korea. Brand extension will focus on the core denim collection and complementary accessories which will leverage the authentic, premium lifestyle image of the BIG JOHN brand.

John Wong, CEO, of Grace Mind, comments, “BIG JOHN holds a unique and special place in global denim history and culture. Japanese denim is revered worldwide for its quality and superior styling, and today’s educated consumer in Asia truly values the authenticity and heritage of the BIG JOHN brand. We are delighted to be working with Beanstalk and are looking forward to broadening the reach of the BIG JOHN brand in Asia with Beanstalk’s help.”

Josephine Law, Beanstalk’s Managing Director, Asia, said, “Few brands can boast the combination of genuine Japanese heritage and innovative product development that the BIG JOHN brand possesses. We are excited to be working with one of the region’s leading denim lifestyle brands as we continue to grow Beanstalk Asia’s roster of world class fashion, celebrity and corporate clients.”

Ciaran Coyle, Managing Director, International said, “We anticipate strong demand from consumers across Asia who value BIG JOHN’s premium quality and cool, contemporary image. The engagement by BIG JOHN signals the start of what we anticipate will be a significant year of growth for Beanstalk in the region, and is part of our strategic initiative to grow our portfolio in the area of fashion lifestyle”.

About BIG JOHN For over 70 years, BIG JOHN has been the leading denim brand in Japan. Founder Koptaro Ozaki was a true pioneer, launching the first Japan-made denim and denim fashions in the Japanese market and creating the foundations of innovative tradition that still drive the company today. BIG JOHN can be found in leading jeanswear and department stores throughout Japan and in leading international jeanswear markets.

About Beanstalk Beanstalk, a global brand licensing agency and consultancy, extends brands through the strategic and creative development of licensed products. The company works with corporate brands, celebrities, entertainment properties, and other high-profile clients to leverage licensing as a strategic tool to enhance brand awareness, increase consumer touch-points, and generate revenue. Beanstalk also offers a breadth of additional licensing services including direct-to-retail program management, license acquisition for manufacturers and royalty auditing. The company is headquartered in New York, with offices in London, Los Angeles, Miami, and Hong Kong, and affiliates throughout the world. For more information, please visit www.beanstalk.com. Beanstalk is a part of Diversified Agency Services, a division of Omnicom Group Inc.

About Diversified Agency Services Diversified Agency Services (DAS), a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com), manages Omnicom's holdings in a variety of marketing communications disciplines. DAS includes over 200 companies, which operate through a combination of networks and regional organizations, serving international and local clients through more than 700 offices in 71 countries.

About Omnicom Group Inc. Omnicom Group Inc. (www.omnicomgroup.com) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

About Grace Mind Founded in 2011, Grace Mind is Asia’s leading brand management, distribution and licensing company with unrivalled market coverage in Greater China. In 2012, Grace Mind was appointed the Master Licensee of BIG JOHN Corporation, based on the company’s entrepreneurial approach and passion for the brand. Grace Mind represents all brands of BIG JOHN Corporation, including BIG JOHN, BRAPPERS, GLHEART & GEORGIA LOVE. Grace Mind is the subsidiary company of Gloss Mind Apparel. As an apparel pacesetter, Gloss Mind has over 30 years of experience in production and has been granted the international standard ISO9001 Certification. Grace Mind provides ODM/OEM services to global brands including Disneyland, Esprit, Giordano, Hugo Boss, Jack & Jones, Lacoste, and Levis.