Historic Harbour Acquired by Global Events Production Company
First Peninsula Marine Advises on the Sale of Charlestown Harbour.
Dedicated marine agency First Peninsula Marine has confirmed Completion has taken place on a multi-faceted sale of Charlestown Harbour the fully functional Grade II* listed 18th Century port located near St Austell on the south coast of Cornwall.
Charlestown is an iconic location steeped in maritime heritage, a Unesco World Heritage site its Georgian port was built in 1792 and is a unique attraction and one of the few remaining British ports still in private ownership. It is a particular draw for the hundreds of thousands of visitors each year as it is the setting for a long list of historic dramas and film credits including the BBC series Poldark and Pirates of the Caribbean – to name a few.
The harbour that visitors see today is remarkably preserved with a wealth of beautiful architecture; the original buildings are still used to maintain the ships and to build replica boats and film sets. The business provides traditional shipbuilding, repair and layup services, ship charter, sail making and rigging services, engineering, specialist seamanship training, corporate events, film set construction and maritime related consultancy to film studios, production and TV companies.
Charlestown Harbour and Square Sail Shipyard have been acquired by Square Sail Ventures Limited, a new company owned by Shane McCarthy of Atlantic Production Ltd. The sale included both inner and outer harbours, piers and quays, the waterfront, beaches, shipyard business and the Phoenix, a famed historic vessel. Commenting on the deal, Shane McCarthy said:
“I am absolutely delighted to be the new owner of this iconic and world-renowned business. The filming and production aspects of Square Sail represent a great fit with Atlantic Production. I have always been fascinated by the marine industry. I am excited to be taking the business forward.”
Square Sail Shipyard, First Peninsula Marine’s client, was founded by Robin Davies in 1968 acquiring Charlestown Harbour in 1994 as a home for his already established specialist marine film company. Commenting on this ‘flagship’ deal Robin Davies, said:
“This deal is great news for Square Sail and its staff. I know that Shane will preserve everything that makes the business special and will also bring exciting new avenues via his production business. I would only have sold to the right person – and that is Shane.”
About Atlantic Production
Atlantic Production Ltd is a full service production company that designs, builds and stages events worldwide. The company has become a market leader synonymous with high-profile documentaries, interviews and historical dramas. It has been operating for over 20 years and offers a wide range of services from set design and staging live events to innovative large scale temporary structures and venues.
It has acquired Charlestown Harbour and the Square Sail Shipyard business through its wholly owned NewCo Square Sail Ventures Limited. Specifics of what the location will be used for have not yet been unveiled, but if Atlantic Production is any indication, we can expect big things.
About First Peninsula Marine
First Peninsula Marine is a specialist business sales and acquisitions agency focused exclusively on the marine and maritime sectors. Operating nationally to provide a range of strategic advisory services to business owners, trade buyers, financial institutions and private investors. First Peninsula Marine advises on a wide range of instructions from £multimillion corporate finance backed transactions and strategic plc acquisitions to local owner-managed business sales.
Deal Summary
- Guide Price: £4,400,000
- Financials: Undisclosed
- Transaction Structure: Combination of Share & Asset Sale