K&L Gates has advised U.S. outdoor gear maker Columbia Sportswear in its joint venture agreement with Swire Resources in China.

Hong Kong-listed Swire has been Columbia’s exclusive distributor in China since 2004. The new “green fields” joint venture deal, which includes a part acquisition agreement, is designed to expand the Columbia brand and promote the Mountain Hardwear brand in China. The new joint venture is expected to begin operations by Jan.1, 2014.

“We are very excited about extending our relationship with Swire Resources to pursue the significant long-term growth opportunities in China,” said Tim Boyle, Columbia’s president and chief executive officer, in a statement.

“During the past eight years as our exclusive independent distributor, Swire has established Columbia Sportswear as an authentic outdoor brand in China, achieving a leading market position based on strong emotional connections with consumers and superb operational capabilities. Swire’s expertise and deep understanding of Chinese consumers are vital to driving continued growth of our brands in this important market.”

The K&L Gates  team was led by Shanghai partner Amy Sommers and consultant Amigo Xie, as well as Beijing partner Yujing Shu.

Liu Zhen is North Asia senior journalist at ALB. Follow us on Twitter: @ALB_Magazine.

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