Billabong looks to sell onlines retailers

Billabong is looking to sell two online retail businesses as it works to consolidate its operations after heavy losses.

Billabong CEO Scott Olivet

Billabong is looking to sell two online retail businesses as it works to consolidate its operations. (AAP)

Ailing surfwear icon Billabong is considering selling online retailers SurfStich.com and Swell.com as it works to shed excess baggage and focus on its core brands.

Chief executive Neil Fiske said the company had decided to undertake a strategic review of the two online retailers, with a view to putting them up for sale.

Mr Fiske said the review was part of Billabong's efforts to consolidate its operations to focus on single-brand retailers.

He said SurfStich, which operates in Australia and Europe and Swell, which is focused on North America, would be attractive to prospective buyers.

"Given the consistent growth and performance of these assets, we believe that there is an opportunity to progress our mono-brand ecommerce strategy and at the same time unlock value for Billabong shareholders."

Billabong also announced it had entered into a new agreement to extend its involvement with RVCA, one of its fastest growing brands, until 2018.

Meanwhile, the company revealed it had sold its underperforming Canadian business West 49 for $3 million, well below the $9 million to $11 million it hoped to earn from the sale.

Billabong paid $CAD99 million for the retailer in 2010.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Watch now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world