Company: Annonces du Bateau, Boats Group
Business Type: Media Company, Online Advertising
UK & International Business Sales and M&A News
The owners behind the largest online marketplace for boats and yachts have purchased a leading French boat sales website.
Boats Group, the International online marine advertiser which comprises the Boat Trader, YachtWorld, boats.com, Cosas De Barcos and iNautia brands, has purchased Annonces du Bateau and all its assets from CarBoat Media.
Sam Fulton, Chief Executive of Boats Group, commented:
“France is an enormously important market in the global leisure marine industry, and the acquisition of Annonces du Bateau – a business with a long tradition of delivering digital excellence in France – will accelerate our growth in Europe.
“We look forward to welcoming the customers of Annonces du Bateau and providing them with leading customer service, as well as an expanded range of products that are proven to help the industry sell more boats.”
Sam Fulton - Chief Executive of Boats Group
Boats Group now begins a substantial investment in Annonces du Bateau, starting with a new platform that will be launched later this year. For the boating industry professionals who currently use Annonces du Bateau, this acquisition provides new access to the international online marketplace for boats.
Francois Couffy, Chief Executive of CarBoat Media, commented:
“We are very pleased to announce this agreement with Boats Group.
“We are confident that our customers will experience best-in-class service and benefit from the technology investments and expanded market opportunities that Boats Group offers.”
Francois Couffy - Chief Executive of CarBoat Media
Boats Group, the international online marine advertiser, was acquired by Apax Partners in July of 2016 and operates the five leading marine brands of YachtWorld, Boat Trader, boats.com, CosasDeBarcos and YachtCloser.
Boat Trader was launched in 1996 as the online counterpart to the Boat Trader Magazine in circulation across the United States. In 2006, the magazine and website joined forces, and has been part of Boats Group since 2010.
YachtWorld has been connecting yacht brokers with buyers across the globe since 1995, when it was launched by founding publisher Jessica Muffet. In March 2000, YachtWorld expanded its offerings to the European market.
The website boats.com, founded in 1999, was originally launched as a private venture capital-funded start-up in San Francisco, CA, to leverage the dot com boom in the boating niche.
CosasDeBarcos was founded in 2004 for the Spanish and Portuguese nautical enthusiasts and professionals market. It also targets Italy, France and Germany through its iNautia brands.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
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