Nike announced two exclusive licensing agreements with H.H.
Cutler Company and Jantzen for children's apparel, swimwear and
related activewear. Cutler Sports Apparel, a division of H.H.
Cutler, will design, manufacture and market a full line of Nike
infant, toddler and 4-7 children's athletic wear for the U.S.
market beginning in the '95 holiday season. Jantzen will design,
manufacture and market a full line of Nike performance and team
swimwear and related activewear for men and women beginning fall
'95. Both H.H. Cutler and Jantzen are divisions of VF Corp.
Nike VP/Apparel Division Stephen Gomez: "This represents our
first significant apparel licensing venture. Jantzen's dominance
in the swimwear business and Cutler's leadership in children's
apparel, combined with Nike's authentic athletic heritage, will
allow us to diversify our apparel business while leveraging
Jantzen's and Cutler's design know-how and manufacturing
efficiencies" (Nike Inc.).
NOTHING BUT OPEN ICE FOR CANSTAR DEAL: Nike also reported
the Canadian Bureau of Competition Policy will not oppose Nike's
proposed acquisition of Canstar Sports. Nike also noted that the
government's review of the acquisition should be complete in the
next several days. In the U.S., the FTC has terminated its
review of the deal, allowing Nike to proceed with the merger
under U.S. antitrust laws (Nike). NEWEST NIKE ENDORSER --
CAM NEELY: According to this morning's BOSTON GLOBE, Bruin Cam
Neely will sign a two-year endorsement contract with Nike
sometime this week. Nike reportedly will shoot a national TV
spot with Neely as soon as Sunday or Monday. Nike will use Neely
to help launch the company's new street hockey sneaker to be in
stores this June. As of now, Nike does not plan to design a
separate Neely sneaker (Kevin Paul Dupont, BOSTON GLOBE, 2/1).
