Genmar Holdings Inc

Yamaha Marine Group, the Cypress-based outboard motor marketing unit of Japan's Yamaha Motor Corp., has signed the biggest supply deal in its 16 years in the U.S. The pact with Genmar Holdings Inc. of Minneapolis calls for Yamaha Marine to build and supply a range of outboard motors to eight powerboat companies owned by Genmar.

Yamaha Marine Group, the Cypress-based outboard motor marketing unit of Japan's Yamaha Motor Corp., has signed the biggest supply deal in its 16 years in the U.S. The pact with Genmar Holdings Inc. of Minneapolis calls for Yamaha Marine to build and supply a range of outboard motors to eight powerboat companies owned by Genmar.

A federal bankruptcy judge approved the sale of Outboard Marine Corp.'s main assets to Bombardier Inc. and Genmar Holdings Inc., ensuring the survival of such well-known brands as Evinrude engines and Chris-Craft boats. Approval of the $95-million joint bid clears the way for the likely recall of some of the bankrupt engine and boat maker's laid-off workers. Waukegan, Ill.-based Outboard Marine has laid off 7,000 of its worldwide staff of 7,700 since Dec. 4.

The relationship between the chief executive of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and entrepreneur Irwin Jacobs, a vendor to the world's largest retailer, is taking some heat. Fired Wal-Mart marketing executive Julie Roehm, in the latest salvo aimed at her former employer, claimed in a court filing that CEO Lee Scott misused the company's ethics policy and accepted trips and received preferential prices on yachts and jewelry from Jacobs. Jacobs owns a number of companies, including Genmar Holdings Inc.

A handcrafted, vintage-1880 pool table adorns the executive suite at Brunswick Corp. headquarters, emblematic of the company's roots. The elegant table stands cluttered with papers, however, and Chief Executive George Buckley has never shot a game on it. He's preoccupied with plotting Brunswick's next course on the water. Founded on billiards and best known for bowling, Brunswick is a fast-expanding power in the boating business.