Wessex Bristol has announced its acquisition of Fairline Boats Limited from Better Capital PPC. The acquisition of Fairline is in line with Wessex Bristol’s strategy to invest in luxury brands and to grow its presence in the luxury boating industry.

Ayiaz Ahmed, CEO of Wessex Bristol, said: “We are excited to be adding Fairline to our brand portfolio, building on our successes in the luxury boat market with our iconic Fletcher brand. Fairline is a leading global luxury yacht brand and has just launched its new Targa 53GT model, which was very well received at the recent Southampton Boat Show. We now look forward to taking Fairline on its next stage of growth, building on the brand’s strong following in the worldwide boating community.”

Kevin Dady, who was interim CEO at Fairline, commented: "We have invested a lot in the turnaround of Fairline and are pleased that Wessex Bristol has taken ownership of the company. We wish them, the company and its staff all the best for the future"

Ayiaz Ahmed will be stepping in as CEO of Fairline on 29 September replacing Kevin Dady who will depart immediately to continue his role as operating partner at Better Capital.

Wessex Bristol owns and operates a portfolio of exclusive brands in the luxury sector including Fletcher, a leading UK-based luxury sportsboat manufacturer.

Fairline, which has manufacturing bases in Oundle and Corby in Northamptonshire, is a leading global brand specialising in the design, engineering, manufacture and distribution of luxury boats in the range of 38 to 80 feet. The business was jointly acquired by Better Capital’s 2009 Fund and West Register Investments Limited in July 2011.