[YachtForums]

Trader Publishing Company acquires boats.com and YachtWorld.com

By IBI Magazine/Michael Verdon

Trader Publishing Company, which operates over 35 web sites and publishes over 700 print magazines, including US boating magazines like Soundings and Boat Trader, announced today that it had acquired boats.com and YachtWorld.com.

The company said in a press release that the acquisition of these sites "brings under Trader's umbrella the global marine industry's largest group of independently operated databases of boats for sale."

"Their recognition and acquisition of our market leadership position will enable both companies to continue our charter to provide new ways for the professional marine industry to sell more products while providing the personal service that our clients have come to expect from us," said James Nolan, spokesperson for boats.com, Inc.

"The unique character of YachtWorld.com allows us to invest in expanding and enhancing the services provided to the brokerage community," said Nick Petsos, General Manager of TraderOnline.com. "The leadership position of boats.com and its relationships with its boat builder and dealer customer base will enable us to deliver more services to the new boat industry."

Petsos added that the acquired web sites "will continue to operate with autonomy".

Ian Atkins, managing director of International Business for Boats.com concurred, telling IBI: "The acquisition means we'll have more resources behind us enabling us to accelerate the number of products and services we provide to brokers, dealers and boatbuilders. Other than that it will be business as usual."

Boats.com was created by venture capitalists at the end of 1999. "It was always going to be a case of when we were sold, not if," Atkins added.