Permira says to keep Hugo Boss for at least 4 yrs

FRANKFURT, April 5 (Reuters) - Private equity firm Permira [PERM.UL] intends to keep fashion house Hugo Boss (BOSG_p.DE: Quote, Profile, Research), in which it holds 88 percent, for at least another four to five years, Permira partner Martin Weckwerth told WirtschaftsWoche.

"We are following an evolutionary course and support the management's growth strategy. There is still great potential in Asia, in women's fashion and in our own shops," he said in an interview published in the German magazine on Saturday.

"We are orienting ourselves towards competitors like Burberry (BRBY.L: Quote, Profile, Research) or Ralph Lauren (RL.N: Quote, Profile, Research). The goal is to grow faster than the fashion market, which increases by 7 to 8 percent annually," Weckwerth said. "Such a strategy takes time." (Reporting by Georgina Prodhan; editing by James Jukwey)