Britain’s largest independent ship repairer is targeting the superyacht sector after making its fifth takeover for an undisclosed sum.

Burgess Marine, based in Dover, has acquired procurement firm Global Services and its sister company, Global New Builds.

The deal is the second since a private equity investment by RJD Partners in February last year in an £11 million deal.

The company already handles about £2.2 million of procurement purchasing a year for the commercial marine and cruise ship sectors, which will eventually sit within the Global Services business.

Chief executive Nicholas Warren said: “Whilst on paper this is an acquisition the operational reality is far, far closer to that of a merger.

“We’ll be taking the best bits of both the businesses and putting them together to the benefit of our customers.

“It’s very much business as usual for the Global team – branding, market positon, strategy and personnel won’t change; that said, over a period of time we’ll definitely be pulling the two companies closer together and moving our own existing procurement business together with Global’s.”

The deal was overseen by Maidstone-based law firm Brachers, which also advised on its previous acquisitions and the RJD-backed management buyout last year.

The legal practice’s head of corporate and commercial James Bullock said: “We are delighted to have helped the Burgess Marine team complete this important deal.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to be able to work with such a focused and ambitious team, and to continue to play a part in the growth of this incredible business. ”