Brunswick acquires Triton Boats
By IBI Magazine/Michael Verdon
Brunswick Corporation announced today that it had acquired Triton Boat Company, a Tennessee-based manufacturer of bass boats, fibreglass saltwater and aluminium fishing boats. Earl Bentz, Triton's founder, will remain as president of the division, according to a Brunswick release. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. "This gives us a top line of bass boats with great distribution and market share," Dustan E. McCoy, president of the Brunswick Boat Group, told IBI. McCoy said that although Triton would be run as a separate division, Triton's fibreglass saltwater boats will be "coordinated" with Brunswick's other saltwater brands, Boston Whaler, Sea Pro and Sea Bass, in terms of distribution. Triton's aluminium jon boats, fishing boats and pontoons will also be coordinated with the Boat Group's Lund, Lowe, Crestliner and Princecraft brands. Bentz, who will report to McCoy, will become a Brunswick spokesperson concerning fishing activities, dealer development and alignment, and industry matters. He will also provide advice and assistance in product development for fishing product. McCoy said that about 75 per cent of the current Triton line is powered by Brunswick's Mercury outboards. "We hope that any engine manufacturer now supplying outboards to Triton will continue to be a supplier," he said. "Ultimately, that will be a decision they will make." He said that Brunswick is "completely comfortable" with making up any shortfall in outboards if the other manufacturers decide to sever supplies. According to a Brunswick statement, Triton factories will remain in Aberdeen, Mississippi, and Ashland City, Tennessee. Triton employs approximately 600 people and makes boats ranging from 12 to 35 feet. Triton's sales were approximately $156 million in 2004. According to Statistical Surveys, Inc., which tracks retail sales in 94 per cent of the US market, Triton's fibreglass retail sales of 3,810 units grew by 7.2 per cent in 2004. But its fourth-quarter sales dropped by 16.7 per cent. Its aluminium boat sales increased by 19.7 per cent for the year to 2,805 units. In the fourth quarter, its aluminium unit sales increased by 19.5 per cent.
(31 May 2005)
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