By Scott Wright
EUROYACHTS, the long-established Scottish boat dealer based in Largs, has changed hands after decades under family ownership.
Angus Scott, who had been running the firm since taking the helm from his father Ronnie in 1994, has sold the business to Swansea-based Yachts.co. The business was sold for a “six-figure” sum.
The takeover was concluded after a busy summer for Euroyachts, originally based on the Clyde in Glasgow city centre, which saw sales surge in light of lockdown as people re-appraised their lives and invested money in boats that they would otherwise have spent on family holidays.
Euroyachts was established in 1965 by Ronnie Scott, father of Angus, who is credited with making yacht ownership and sailing more accessible in the UK through his introduction of the East German Folkboat, a form of pleasure craft.
While the firm went on to become a dealer for many popular brands, Hurley, Seamaster, Fairline, Dateline, Westerly, Dufour, Hardy, Beneteau and Najad, it is best-known for its 40-plus-year relationship with Jeanneau, becoming its exclusive dealer in the UK between 1978 and 1993.
Under the leadership of Angus Scott, the company moved its main premises to a custom-built showroom at Largs Yacht Haven. It also operates from Troon Yacht Haven.
The sale to Yachts.co means Euroyachts has been sold to another member of the Jeanneau network.
Angus Scott has exited the business following the sale, but the remainder of the team will remain on board, with the exception of a bookkeeper who has retired. One more member of staff has joined, taking the headcount to five full-time and one part-time members of staff. Mr Scott said the deal works for all parties concerned, noting that Euroyachts, under the leadership of new leader Jamie Tibbott, would deliver the “infusion of younger thinking and digital mastery” the business now needs. He said: “A deal is only a good deal if it works for everybody. I feel what we have done here is exactly that.” Mr Scott said the sale comes with Euroyachts in good financial shape. Accounts for the year to the end of September are still being prepared, but he said the numbers show that it had been a “positive” period, in spite of the “rollercoaster” brought by the pandemic.
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