April 21, 2009 (FinancialWire) — Apparel seller Destination Maternity Corp. (NASDAQ: DEST) (Current Market Cap: US$44.24 Mil.) said it has signed a franchise agreement with Mahindra Retail, part of India’s Mahindra Group, to introduce several of its brands in India.

Under a multi-year franchise agreement, Destination Maternity has granted to Mahindra Retail exclusive rights to operate branded retail locations and market merchandise under Destination Maternity’s Motherhood Maternity, Destination Maternity, and A Pea in the Pod brands in India.

Mahindra Retail has opened five of its Mom & Me stores carrying Motherhood Maternity product in the Indian cities of Ludhiana, Ahmedabad, Pune and New Delhi. The deal calls for Mahindra to purchase maternity and nursing apparel merchandise from Destination Maternity or designated suppliers. Additional terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Destination Maternity said that the India deal is part of a broader effort by the retailer to expand internationally. Last October, Destination Maternity said that it had signed its first international franchise agreement to introduce its brands into six markets in the Middle East. The first Destination Maternity branded retail locations in the Middle East are scheduled to open during 2009.

Philadelphia-based Destination Maternity is a designer and retailer of maternity apparel. As of March 31, the company operated 1,088 retail locations, including 734 stores in the United States and Canada.

Destination Maternity also distributes its Oh Baby by Motherhood collection through a licensed arrangement at Kohl’s stores throughout the United States and online.

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