Kiwi Yachting partners acquire major share of Nexus Marine AB
Dean Barker and Richard Macalister have acquired the majority shareholding in Stockholm-based company Nexus Marine AB.
Good news has been thin on the ground for the New Zealand business sector recently, so it’s uplifting to hear how one local company – which has local sailing legend Dean Barker as a director – has acquired control of a world-leading marine instrumentation company.
Nexus Marine is a leading manufacturer of navigation instrumentation for racing and cruising yachts. Formed in September 2006 out of the manufacturing arm of the Silva Group, the Nexus brand encapsulates 70 years of experience in the design and manufacture of precision navigation instruments.
Speaking on behalf of Nexus Marine AB, Sales & Marketing Director Jonas Magner commented:
“We are really excited to welcome Richard and Dean to Nexus Marine. With their guidance and experience we are immediately adding extra impact to everything we do from now on. The extra credibility for this heritage brand and an even sharper focus on product design and development aimed at the very top end of yacht racing - something we’re already very good at -.means we can only do it better, and who better to do it with!”
Dean Barker adds:
“Kiwi Yachting is already the distributor of Nexus in New Zealand, so when this opportunity came up, we knew it was a good one. The products are great, especially for the cruising market, and the potential exists for the Nexus brand to claim lead position in the race instrumentation market. Seeing Nexus become the instrumentation of choice for America’s Cup boats would be a very good outcome.”
Richard Macalister is quick to reassure Kiwi Yachting’s many suppliers that it’s “business as usual, only better” at the Grey Lynn-based business.
“Now that we’ll be distributing Nexus in Australia and North America as well as New Zealand, we can invest more into distribution processes – that will have benefits for all of our agencies and suppliers. Our customers can also be pleased about the Nexus connection because the range includes so much of what every boat needs – from instruments and VHF radios to binoculars and compasses.”
Richard and Dean will not be involved in the day-to-day running of Nexus Marine, although they will make regular trips to Sweden to keep a hand on the helm. General management of Nexus will be entrusted to Greg Franc de Ferriere, previously an employee at Kiwi Yachting Consultants. Greg recently finished his MBA at Auckland University.
The new management team has stepped in at a pivotal time in the Nexus Marine story. The sponsorship of high profile events - including Kieler Woche and Cowes Week - and the great race results of boats equipped with Nexus instruments have all made a massive contribution to keeping this brand in the public eye and reinforcing the association of the Nexus brand with the sharp end of yachting.