Southampton: Global specialist transport leader starts 2018 with two major acquisitions

Southampton-based world-leading bespoke logistics provider Peters & May Group is delighted to kick off 2018 with the announcement of two very exciting acquisitions; Worldwide Yacht Shipping and Transport Partners. 

Already an accredited global industry leader in specialist transport, these new additions are set to propel Peters & May forwards; further strengthening an already well-established worldwide position. A demonstration of recent success; the acquisitions fit in with growth plans as Peters & May further expand horizons across the Middle East, Far East and the USA – all key strategic positions for 2018.

David Holley, Peters & May Group CEO, said: “The team here are very excited about the acquisition of Worldwide Yacht Shipping and Transport Partners – both strong and strategic additions for Peters & May. A clear testament to our growing success, these acquisitions strengthen our position as global industry leaders in yacht transport – watch this space.”

Worldwide Yacht Shipping, run by chairman and CEO Nigel Grayston, is already a strong player across the Middle East, all credit to his 40 years of industry experience. Peters & May, which now has 12 offices globally, is keen to focus its development on the Middle East and Far East regions. As a result, the company is excited for the opportunity this acquisition presents, both for the business but also its valued clients. Adding a personal service to every shipment with its unrivalled reputation; Worldwide Yacht Shipping fits well within current portfolios to further instil values of professionalism, dependability and passion, all core to Peters & May’s success. Combining the experience, knowledge and global success of Peters & May with the fundamental understanding of the complex nature of the UAE by Grayston and his team; everyone is confident this collaboration will provide strength and extended expertise across the Yacht Shipping industry around the UAE.  

Grayston commented on the acquisition: “Having worked closely with Peters & May for over 5 years, I am excited to be taking our collaboration to the next level. The synergy between our businesses and the growing success of Peters & May as industry leaders, leaves me confident that Worldwide Yacht Shipping is in the best of hands as I begin to take a step back over the coming years.”

Alongside this acquisition, Peters & May makes exciting moves to grow its team within the Middle East. Steve Stanbury moves into his new role as sales director for the region. Having joined the company at 16 years old, he has been with Peters & May for over eight years. It is fair to say that he has been exposed to all aspects of the business – a true expert in his field. With a strong sales background and in-depth knowledge of superyachts, Peters & May is confident that Stanbury will take to his new role, as if it were plain sailing.

The second acquisition marks a significant step for Peters & May. Friendly competitors of Peters & May for over five years, Transport Partners and its subsidiaries follow Peters & May as the second largest shipper of boats worldwide from the USA. Across two new locations in the US and the Netherlands; Peters & May welcomes an additional 14 team members globally, all with skill sets that add undeniable value.

Transport Partners specialises in yacht and boat shipping. With over 25 years’ experience shipping 5,000 boats annually, it prides itself in caring for cargo – a value Peters & May believes is essential. With offices and warehousing in the Netherlands and Charleston USA, Peters & May looks forward to expanding horizons further across Europe and the United States of America.

Royal Marine Packing, a subsidiary of Transport Partners located in Charleston USA specialises in the packing and transportation of boats. The acquisition of this subsidiary will offer Peters & May freight packing and cradling facilities, alongside safe warehousing for cargo. Additional facilities will mean that Peters & May can extend its offering with value added, full-service solutions.

Peters & May group finance and commercial director Paul Tate is excited about the opportunity: “This is a great strategic move for us, both in terms of geographic expansion and as well as an extension of our service offerings. The acquisition of Transport Partners is an exciting opportunity to further strengthen and develop our already market-leading position.”

Wim Spinhoven, CEO at Transport Partners also offered his comments: “2018 is set to be an exciting year for us. Peters & May is a very successful company – being in close competition for years we know more than anyone that the global reach of Peters & May is set to significantly expand Transport Partners offering.”

All in all, both acquisitions offer a flying start to 2018 for Peters & May, hopefully a sign of a successful 2018 to come. Current and prospective clients are invited to find out more about Peters & May’s extended range of bespoke logistics solutions at the Dusseldorf Boat Show. Join the team on their stand, Hall 7a F24, where they will be on hand to answer any questions.