In October 1993 Kopcke International Supply Systems decided to sell both Sestrel Observator and Brown & Perring Limited to their major competitor, Kelvin Hughes Limited. At Lilley and Gillie there was a management buy-out, with the Managing Director, Mr. Chris Turnbull, acquiring the majority of the shares, supported by Iver C. Weilbach and Company of Copenhagen, who had been friends of the company for many decades. During the next six years the company thrived, as a large proportion of the profits were reinvested. In 1997 Chris Turnbull visited the Charente Group in Liverpool, the shareholders of Dubois Phillips & McCallum Limited (now DPM (UK) Limited) with the intention of trying to acquire DPM. The discussions were turned around, and Charente eventually purchased John Lilley and Gillie Limited in June 1999. In June 1999, Graham Knight was appointed the Managing Director, after eleven years in the position of Sales and Marketing Manager. On appointment as M.D. he immediately instigated a programme for re-engineering the existing products. The Charente Group, which included Harrison Line, went through some changes in December 2001, which meant that Lilley and Gillie became the major company within the Group. The company continues to look for opportunities, and in July 2002 acquired the assets of Thomas Walker & Son Limited, including the products and brand names of Walker Marine, Chernikeeff and Neco. December 2002 saw the consolidation of all the manufacturing activities to the larger Birmingham site, with sales, distribution and administration remaining at North Shields. Re-engineering of all the Walker branded products has now been carried out to take advantage of improved materials and production methods. In June 2004 Lilley & Gillie bought a 50% holding in PC Maritime, the Plymouth-based developer of electronic chart software and associated hardware to marine markets worldwide PC Maritime's core product is Navmaster, an electronic chart system. PC Maritime Ltd is a developer and supplier of software, electronic charts and associated hardware to marine markets worldwide. Its products include electronic navigation systems, office-based electronic chart applications, type-approved engine room training simulators and electronic chart services. An independent British company founded by David and Anne Edmonds in 1987, PC Maritime was the first manufacturer to support the UK Hydrographic Office ARCS product in 1996 and was actively involved in UKHO developments including the ECDIS service trials. PC Maritime's customers range from shipowners, shipmanagers, maritime authorities, maritime colleges, coastguards, ports, survey and salvage