Bavaria buys Dufour & G Soleil

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Yes, it was in the local paper last week. Dufour production is staying at the factory near La Rochelle. Last year they were closing down for periods due to lack of demand, so I expect this is a relief for the workers.
 
Bavaria - Dufour - Grand Soleil

Here is the report from IBI dated 1st November. The market for all new boat builders must be hard and not likely to improve in the foreseeable future. No doubt the individual builders will maintain their ranges and production facilities. We will have to wait and see.

From IBI

German boatbuilder Bavaria is among the parties currently in talks to acquire troubled Italian yard Cantiere del Pardo, producer of sailboat brand Grand Soleil, as well as its sister brand Dufour in France.

Bavaria's new CEO Jens Ludmann confirmed Bavaria's interest in the two brands when speaking to IBI today. Ludmann said that Bavaria is in ongoing negotiations with several parties concerning plans for the group. He refused to comment on what the potential deal would be worth.

"We see the three brands as complementing one another," Ludmann told IBI. "We feel that there are lots of sale synergy opportunities with the three brands."

Italian private equity group Orlando is also reported to be interested in Cantiere del Pardo, which is understood to owe over €100m.

Cantiere del Pardo and Dufour are part of holding company ISB (International Sailing Boats). Private equity investment firm Rhone Capital LLC became ISB's majority shareholder in March 2006.

Bavaria's current investors Anchorage Advisors LLC and Oaktree Capital Management acquired control of the German boatbuilder from private equity firm Bain Capital in 2009.
 
TiggerToo said:
Bav - el Cheapo
Duf - solid middle class, with touch of fizz
Cantieri DelP - real class elegance, as long as you want to lounge about in the med

:D
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Cantieri DelP are elegant and classy, but I saw a newish Grand Soleil on the hard with work being carried out, and said to the man who was doing work on my boat that I liked the look of it. His reply was that I should be glad I did not own one and that his firm was working on it because it had very serious structural problems. From what he said I think the issue was that the hull grid structure was not properly bonded to the hull itself.
 
Norman_E said:
Cantieri DelP are elegant and classy, but I saw a newish Grand Soleil on the hard with work being carried out, and said to the man who was doing work on my boat that I liked the look of it. His reply was that I should be glad I did not own one and that his firm was working on it because it had very serious structural problems. From what he said I think the issue was that the hull grid structure was not properly bonded to the hull itself.
Click to expand...

I assume its an egg crate type inner moulding to give the boat structural strength instead of ribs and stringers.

I can see why its used as a cost effective construction method but even with a lioght grounding I suspect the risk of debonding is high and impossible to inspect without drilling holes and inserting endoscopes. Can anyone advise please.
 
Norman_E said:
Cantieri DelP are elegant and classy... From what he said I think the issue was that the hull grid structure was not properly bonded to the hull itself.
Click to expand...

you don't need that if all you want is a bit of totty on deck with just the faintest of breezes. As I said: OK for lounging in the Med.
 
I think it is worth stating that Bavaria haven't bought Dufour & Grand Soleil... it is the finance companies that own Bavaria Yachts amongst other companies that have bought Dufour Yachts and Grand Soleil. There is no connection otherwise between Bavaria and D & GS however I am sure Bavaria dealers will feel this will up the status of their brand now being associated with these two more up-market brands...!!
 
There has been some mergers and buyouts as manufacturers are chase reduced costs.

Ben & Jen merged about 2 years ago. Dehler was bought by Hanse and now Bav buys D & GS. Consolidation to get price breaks from the equipment suppliers.

Was bound to happen IMO:D
 
Monique said:
There has been some mergers and buyouts as manufacturers are chase reduced costs.

Ben & Jen merged about 2 years ago. Dehler was bought by Hanse and now Bav buys D & GS. Consolidation to get price breaks from the equipment suppliers.

Was bound to happen IMO:D
Click to expand...

Ben Jen Merger was 1995!
 
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