Billabong shareholders approve takeover

Billabong says 95.45 per cent of votes at a scheme meeting were cast in favour of accepting a $198 million takeover by the owner of Roxy and rival Quiksilver.

Billabong signage outside a store.

Billabong shareholders have approved a takeover bid from Boardriders for the surfwear brand. (AAP)

Billabong shareholders have overwhelmingly approved a takeover by Boardriders after the US-based owner of Quiksilver and DC Shoes increased its offer for the Australian label at the last minute.

Boardriders lifted its offer by five cents to $1.05 per share just before Wednesday's scheme meeting, and 95.45 per cent of votes were cast in favour of the improved cash bid.

The successful offer represented a 35 per cent premium on Billabong's closing price the day before Boardrider's proposal was first announced in January.

Boardriders chief executive Dave Tanner said the deal offered the best value for shareholders, employees, vendors and customers.

"We are pleased to see that the Billabong shareholders recognised this value, and have approved the proposed acquisition," Mr Tanner said.

"We have now cleared a significant milestone, and we are one step closer to creating the world's leading action sports company."

Boardriders is majority-owned by US investment firm Oaktree Capital, which already held a 19.3 per cent stake in Billabong.

The offer was backed by the Billabong board and by founder Gordon Merchant, as well as major shareholders Ryder Capital and Adam Smith Asset Management.

After announcing a $18.4 million half-year loss in February, Billabong warned that rejection of the offer would force more equity raising or asset sales to cut $138.6 million of debt before its loans matured.

Boardriders' chief executive David Tanner said there would be "blood on the hands" of anyone that blocked the proposal.

The company will now present the results of the vote to the Federal Court on April 6, so it can proceed with the takeover.

Billabong shares, which had been in a trading halt for much of Wednesday, closed 13 cents, or 14.3 per cent, higher at $1.04, their highest level since May, 2017.


Share

2 min read

Published

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.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world