Company: Boats Group, Boot24
Business Type: Boat Sales
UK & International Business Sales and M&A News
Boats Group, which owns and operates online boating platforms around the world, has acquired Boot24, Germany’s leading online marine classifieds marketplace.
The acquisition of the marine classifieds marketplace gives Boats Group greater access to the region’s largest boat-buying audience and reinforces the company’s focus to provide its customers with expanded opportunities to reach more buyers on a global level, according to a statement form the company.
Florida-based Boats Group, which includes brands such as Boat Trader, YachtWorld, boats.com, and Boats and Outboards, is owned by the Permira Funds, and has co-headquarters in Fareham, UK, as well as additional offices in Italy, and Spain. This means that clients of Boot24 will now have access to a wider international marketplace, as they can now add their inventory to any of the Boats Group’s online portals.
The company also offers a suite of online business solutions, including proprietary web-based contract management tools, and premier digital marketing strategies and services.
Sam Fulton, CEO of Boats Group, sees the acquisition as a time for expansion.
He commented:
“Acquiring Boot24, a fixture within the German boat market, represents a celebrated milestone for our steadily growing presence in Germany, a country that plays an enormously important part of the leisure marine industry and across Europe.
“Boot24 is a business with a long tradition of delivering digital excellence and we look forward to welcoming the customers of Boot24 and providing them with world-class customer service, as well as a greater range of products that are proven to help the industry sell more boats.”
Sam Fulton – CEO of Boats Group
Boats Group will undertake a significant technical investment in Boot24. Browse-ready features such as a dealer search page, a quick-search tool on the homepage, as well as direct links to specific boat types, brands, models, and more, will create a modern user experience.
Gorän Holst, who co-founded Boot24 in 2007, said the technology will help to boost sales.
He said:
“This transaction marks an exciting point in Boot24’s history and a strategic move to join the largest, most-trusted network of boating marketplaces.
“Right now, as boating interest remains very strong and people increasingly rely on the convenience of technology to get them on the water, Boats Group’s world-class technological resources will allow our boat shoppers to make more informed purchases faster.”
Gorän Holst – Co-founder of Boot24
Stefan Mantwill, Managing Director and co-founder of Boot24, agrees that the customer service and experience will benefit from the acquisition.
He commented:
“We are very pleased to announce this agreement with Boats Group that will bolster Boot24’s future success.
“We are confident that shoppers will benefit from increased access to listings and that our customers will experience best-in-class service and prosper from the expanded market opportunities that Boats Group offers.”
Stefan Mantwill – Managing Director and Co-founder of Boot24
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