I thought the question so says Jeff Swartz

"No. how." Officially, the direction of Timberland, which manufactures the famous shoe of popular rappers and men "in field" yellow building, refused to comment on the recent rumors about a sale of the American society. But when asked about the serenity that could offer to Timberland the universe of the non-coté from the stock exchange or on the way in which his company could be integrated into a larger group, Jeff Swartz, his energetic and endorsement CEO, shows much more talkative.

"Wall Street suffers from attention disorders", thus launching the grandson of the founder of Timberland. While the financial markets had until now cared producer of shoes and "nature" clothing lines, investors do not forgive at Timberland for a pause in its development. If, between 2002 and July 2005, the course of the action of the Group had been multiplied by almost 3, it has indeed lost 39 between this date and July 2006. He resumed since, in particular through the recent rumors about a sale.

"To be listed requires the company to be publicly accountable to its performance and its practices, which is very useful, but there are advantages to not be on the market", recognizes Jeff Swartz. Difficult not to bring these remarks information by several media outlets reported last month that the Swartz family, which controls 70 percent of the voting rights of Timberland, took contact with investors in the non-coté, which interested more and more in family groups of the sector, such as Eddie Bauer.

A problem of trend

The hypothesis of a resumption of Timberland, which weighs about 2 billion dollars in the stock market, by a more general group anime as well as the CEO of Timberland. "I thought the question," so says Jeff Swartz. It is intellectually possible: I just discuss it with the pattern of Stonyfield organic dairy products company just bought by Danone. He had the impression to have ceded the control but have gained power.

Pending a possible change of control, an operation for which the bank Goldman Sachs would have been mandated, the society of Stratham, New Hampshire, must manage the difficult pass through. Timberland, which identified the profits of 164 million for a turnover of 1.6 billion in 2005, provides a fall of 30 of its earnings per share in 2006. "We have a problem of trend," said Jeff Swartz. Fashion has moved a little and appears to be go to clothes or more formal shoes, which took the group.

The rebound is not expected before next year, and he will come "a new structure of management, with the hiring of a framework of Nike," and the international, estimated Jeff Swartz. About abroad, Jeff Swartz look more to Asia than to Europe. The winter is too lenient this year and the new anti-dumping against China imports taxes heavily penalize Timberland.

One thing is certain, Timberland appears unwilling to trim its values to round out its profits loss of speed. The company is known for its commitment, for a long time, for certain social and environmental causes. Each employee of the group can spend 40 hours per year to an association. Timberland is also transparent on the environmental damage by the manufacture of its products. On the matter, the company hopes that ethics will be pay commercially. "After the success of food comes to environmentally friendly clothing", predicted Jeff Swartz.