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News | March 21, 2022
2 minute read

Warner Represented Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry in the Sale of a Majority of Its Stock to The Hoffmann Family of Companies

Warner Norcross + Judd represented Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry in the sale of a majority of its stock to Florida-based The Hoffmann Family of Companies on March 18, 2022. Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry has operated for 77 years as a family-owned transit company transporting visitors to and from Mackinac Island, Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, Michigan. The transaction included a fleet of Great Lakes ferries.

Chris and Billy Shepler will continue partial ownership of the business and play a key role in the operations. Chris will continue to serve as president, and Billy will continue as fleet captain. The company name and branding will remain the same, and all cast members will retain their positions.
 
The Hoffmann Family of Companies is based in Naples, Florida, and owns nine other cruise groups across the United States, including The Naples Princess, Miss Naples and Naples Transportation & Tours. The Hoffmann’s other holdings include a wide array of hospitality and entertainment, agriculture, professional services, golf, commercial real estate, and manufacturing and distribution businesses.
 
Shepler’s describes the Hoffmann family as a like-minded family that closely identifies with Shepler’s commitment to first-class service for every guest, every day. Shepler’s believes the partnership will permit the business to continue to make capital investments, upgrades and improvements to the business.
 
The Warner transaction team was led by Gregory Demers, Jeffrey Ott and Emily Cantor, and included Ford Turrell, William Lentine, Allyson Terpsma and Benjamin Nimphie.

Warner’s Merger & Acquisition (M&A) Practice Group

As part of one of the largest and most successful law firms in Michigan, Warner’s M&A Practice Group draws upon more than 90 years of experience to successfully and efficiently handle a wide range of M&A transactions for both private and publicly traded businesses, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and strategic business combinations of all types.