Berthon acquires UK marine firms

The Berthon group of companies in the UK has acquired BHG Marine and Willow Marine through its Lymington Marina subsidiary. The move comes not longer after the company acquired Marine IP, producer of the VersaDock mooring system.

BHG and Willow Marine were both owned and run by father and son team David and Paul Martin. David, who has spent 62 years working in the marine industry, will now retire, with Paul staying on as consultant to both businesses. All staff, some 20 people, and operations of both BHG Marine and Willow Marine, trading as BHG Service, will be retained.

Under the new ownership, the Lymington BHG site will move to a new showroom in the south of England.

Paul Martin commented: “As a long-established marine specialist, with over 70 years’ trading, we are excited at the prospect of a bright future for both companies. It was a difficult decision to sell the family business, but we are relieved and reassured that we have found another family-owned company who recognise our expertise and reputation and who will retain the company names and brand and retain our loyal staff.”

Dominic May of Lymington Marina said: “David and Paul Martin have spent a lifetime building up a brilliant business and we thank them both to entrusting its future to us. The BHG and Willow purchases take us into product areas which we don’t currently offer to our customers. We welcome all the BHG and Willow staff and we will use our strong balance sheet to provide them with a promising future.”

BHG Marine specialises in the sales, service and parts for Yamaha outboards, Jeanneau motor craft, Zodiac inflatables and RIBs. The company also distributes PropGuards and Hurley Davits in Europe and Turboswing and Motortoter and the Linder range of aluminium dinghies and canoes in the UK, employing 13 staff.

Willow Marine services and repairs all brands of outboard motors and small craft, inboard diesel engine servicing and maintenance. The company also distributes Rigiflex boats in the UK and employs eight people.

The sale was facilitated by First Peninsular Marine and while no purchase price was disclosed, the total equity in the company as of October 31, 2018 was £799,322.