Ifor Williams Trailers is a privately held, family-owned British company based in North Wales.
Key facts about the company:
It was established in 1958 by local farmer Ifor Williams and remains a family business.
The company is currently run by managing directors John and Carole Williams.
It is the largest manufacturer of trailers in Britain (up to 3500kg gross weight) and is a significant employer in North Wales, with approximately 800 people across six sites.
The company builds its trailers in Wales and has a network of distributors across the UK, Europe, and worldwide, including Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.
Sunseeker International was owned by a Chinese conglomerate, the Dalian Wanda Group, from 2013 until late 2024. The company is now jointly owned by the US-based Lionheart Capital and Italian-based Orienta Capital Partners private equity firms.
History of Ownership
1969-2013: The British company, originally named Poole Power Boats, was founded by the Braithwaite brothers and remained under various private owners and investment firms (including an Irish private equity firm, FL Partners) for its early history.
2013-2024: China's Dalian Wanda Group, a large real estate and entertainment conglomerate, acquired a majority stake (nearly 92%) in Sunseeker in 2013 for approximately £320 million. The company remained headquartered in Poole, UK, with its manufacturing facilities staying in the UK during this period.
Late 2024-Present: In a deal announced in October 2024, the Dalian Wanda Group sold Sunseeker to US investment firm Lionheart Capital and Italian private equity firm Orienta Capital Partners. The new owners have pledged to maintain Sunseeker's British heritage, headquarters, and production in Poole, England
Official UK company information from Companies House confirms that the persons with significant control are British nationals residing in Wales.