Bavaria tipped to acquire Dufour and Grand Soleil
by Sail-World Cruising on 23 Nov 2010
Bavaria SW
Two of the world's best known names in yacht production, Grand Soleil and Dufour, may be soon under the control of the well-known German boatbuilder Bavaria.
Bavaria Yachtbau, according to marine news channel http://www.ibinews.com!IBI, is the highest bidder for the troubled Italian sailing boat manufacturer Cantiere del Pardo, which is responsible for the Grand Soleil brand. The same consortium of banks that control Grand Soleil also control the French sailboat builder Dufour, so the deal could go through as a package.
IBI reported that Bavaria has said the contract negotiations are underway and that an
announcement can be expected before Paris boat show, which opens on 4th December.
The consortium of banks that currently control Dufour and Del Pardo do it via holding company International Sailing Boats (ISB). Italian news sources are saying that the banks have their preference for Bavaria's offer over that of the other bidder,
investment fund Orlando Italy.
Bavaria first told of its interest in the acquisition at the beginning of November, when IBI was told by Bavaria CEO Jens Ludmann that the German company saw the three boat brands as 'complementing one another'.
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