* Says IPO plan "concrete", but market difficult
* Sees 2010 rev growth below 20 pct, aims for higher margins
* Plans 7 store openings, including in New York and Tokyo
By Antonella Ciancio
MILAN, June 21 (Reuters) - Italian high-end sportswear maker Moncler is cautious on whether to go ahead with its 2011 planned listing due to market uncertainty, as revenue growth will likely slow after a 23 percent rise last year, its chairman said.
The rooster-logoed brand, synonymous with coloured down jackets, has hired Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch as global coordinators for the initial public offering.
"The project is concrete. We named the advisors," Chairman Remo Ruffini told Reuters in an interview at Moncler's show during Milan's spring-summer 2011 menswear fashion week.
"But markets are very difficult, we need to be cautious. Let's see if we will do (the IPO) or not," said Ruffini, who is the company's second-biggest investor.
Private equity firm Carlyle, which has a 48 percent stake, said in June it was considering floating Moncler between spring and summer of 2011.
After Italian online fashion retailer Yoox floated on the Milan bourse in December, analysts wondered whether the IPO market could re-open to luxury groups like Prada and Ferragamo, which have been waiting for over a year.
The two fashion houses have said they never abandoned their listing plans but are waiting for markets to stabilise.
EYES HIGHER MARGINS
Moncler, which owns brands such as Marina Yachting and HenrY Cotton's, reported a 23 percent revenue increase to 372 million euros ($461 million) in 2009. Sales grew 7.9 percent to 125.5 million euros in the first quarter of 2010.
"We expect (revenue) growth to be below 20 percent this year, almost in line with 2009, but we aim to increase margins", Ruffini said.
Ruffini, a businessman and keen sportsman who took over the French company in 2003, owns a 38 percent stake in the group, where he is also creative director.
Founded in 1952 by a French mountain gear manufacturer, Moncler equipment was once sold in exclusive mountain resorts before opening stores in the biggest fashion capitals.
The group, which owns 18 mono-brand stores and four shop-in-shops, will open seven stores in coming months, including in New York, Tokyo and Beijing.
Japan is the company's second-biggest market after Europe.
($1=.8076 Euro) (Editing by Simon Jessop)