...Satisfactory Operating Performance: New Look Retail Group Ltd (New Look) delivered satisfactory results for the first three quarters of 2014. These were constrained by warmer weather impacting sales and by challenges in its international division, but supported by its growing online presence and good performance in the UK. Established Brand: New Look's IDR reflects the group's market-leading position in the UK young womenswear fast-fashion market. Evolving Business Model: Fitch Ratings views an online presence as a key differentiating factor in fast fashion. In addition to its own online offering, New Look partners with regional online fashion retailers adding geographic reach and scale to the brand in a capital-efficient way. Focused International Expansion: A key area for growth is international expansion with New Look's new management implementing investment in key markets with a priority on China, targeting 20 stores by the financial year to March 2015 (FY15) from the current 18. Fitch...
