Billabong (clothing)

For other uses, see Billabong (disambiguation).

Billabong International Limited
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryTextile
FoundedNovember 6, 1973; 50 years ago (1973-11-06) in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
FounderGordon Merchant[1]
HeadquartersBurleigh Heads, Queensland, Australia
Key people
David Tanner, Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Products[Boardshorts]], wetsuits, t-shirts, shirts, backpacks
RevenueIncrease A$1.27 billion (2014)
Increase A$25.7 million (2014)
Number of employees
~6,000 (2011)
ParentQuiksilver
Websitebillabong.com

Billabong International Limited is an Australian company focused on surfing, primarily a clothing retailer that also produces accessories, such as watches and backpacks, and skateboard and snowboard products under other brand names. Founded in 1973 by Gordon and Rena Merchant, the company first traded on the Australian Securities Exchange in August 2000. The name "billabong" is derived from the Wiradjuri word bilabaŋ that refers to a "creek that runs only during the rainy season".[2] As of September 2013, Von Zipper[3] and Element[4] were two of the prominent brands that Billabong owns. Honolua Surf Company, Kustom, Palmers Surf, Xcel, Tigerlily, Sector 9, and RVCA were the company's other brands. In 2018, Billabong International Limited was acquired by Boardriders, Inc, owner of rival brand Quiksilver.

From late 2012 onwards, following the company's decline in the period since 2008, Billabong International has been the subject of several protracted bidding and takeover processes in which the company's former United States chief Paul Naude has been a participant. During one period, Billabong used a corporate turnaround strategy to return the company to profitability, which it achieved in 2014.[5]

In December 2016, chief executive Matthew Perrin was found guilty of fraud and forgery by a jury in the district court in Brisbane,[6][7] and was sentenced to jail in January 2017.[8]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference wsj20120907 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "billabong". Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, LLC. 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Von was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Johnny was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Andrew White (9 April 2013). "Billabong closer to cut-price sale deal". The Australian. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  6. ^ Sharnie Kim (20 December 2016). "Matthew Perrin trial: Jury finds former Billabong chief executive guilty of fraud".
  7. ^ Mark Ludlow (20 December 2016). "Former Billabong CEO Matthew Perrin guilty of fraud and forgery".
  8. ^ Amy Mitchell-Whittington (27 January 2010). "Ex-Billabong boss Matthew Perrin gaoled for $13m fraud".