Garmin acquires company with Manatee County distribution facility

Swiss technology giant Garmin has acquired privately held Lumishore, which is based in the United Kingdom and has a distribution facility in the Sarasota-Manatee area. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Lumishore makes LED systems for boats that function above the surface and underwater. Its lighting systems are created for vessels ranging from runabouts to superyachts, according to a statement.

“Garmin shares our passion for serving the marine industry, making them an ideal company to carry Lumishore into the future,” Lumishore founder and CEO Eifrion Evans says in a statement. “We look forward to a bright future working together as we continue to elevate the lighting experience for our customers.”

Garmin, which posted $5.23 billion in revenue for 2023, attributed $917 million of that to its marine division.

"Lumishore brings an exciting new product category that complements Garmin's existing marine portfolio and furthers our ability to provide seamless vessel integration,” Garmin Vice President Jarrod Seymour, of the marine division, says in the statement. “As a technology leader in LED lighting, Lumishore will expand Garmin's innovative solutions all around the vessel. Together, we look forward to delivering unmatched LED lighting technology to our customers around the world."

Lumishore’s distribution facility is located at 7137 24th Court East, northeast of the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Employees of Lumishore will become part of the Garmin workforce, according to a statement from the Swiss company.