H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB · Stockholm Sweden ·(OMX Stockholm: HMB)

H&M Hennes & Mauritz targets the Hip & Modish. The firm designs cheap but chic clothing, mainly for men and women 18 to 45, children's apparel, and its own brands of cosmetics. Fast-growing H&M operates about 1,800 stores in about 35 countries and has direct sales operations in selected areas. Germany is H&M's #1 market, accounting for about 25% of sales. About 60% of its clothing is made in Asia, the rest is manufactured primarily in Europe. H&M opened its first women's clothing store in 1947 as Hennes (Swedish for "hers"); it later bought the hunting and men's clothing store Mauritz Widforss. H&M is controlled by the family of chairman Stefan Persson (the billionaire son of founder Erling Persson). To read the full description, subscribe now.