News: Billabong to target women

.

Billabong International Limited (ASX:BBG) will launch a new strategy aimed at boosting sales in its womens division, as prolonged negotiations over the group's future continue, according to media reports.

 

Chief executive Laura Inman flew to the United States to spearhead a move to revive its womenswear label, which has experienced a 40 per cent drop in sales in the past four years.

 

Comparatively, Billabong's menswear division has lost a reported 4 per cent in sales per year.

 

US hedge fund lenders Centerbridge Partners and Oaktree Capital are considering a plan which would see them take on Billabong's debt, in exchange for equity in, and likely control of, the company.

 

Billabong posted a net loss of $537 million for the first half of the 2013 financial year.