Acquisition of majority shareholding
Next Stage, a specialist in equity investment in medium-sized companies, and the Fountaine Pajot shipyard have announced that they have entered into exclusive negotiations with the Dream Yacht Charter group to acquire a majority stake. This capital investment of ?11 million for Fountaine-Pajot and ?14 million for Next Stage is a first step in the group's long-term industrial support policy. It should be noted that Next Stage has already acquired a stake in Fountaine-Pajot in 2016.
The transaction is expected to close before October 2017.
Funds for further development
Dream Yacht Charter was created in 2001 by Loïc Bonnet. With a first base of only 6 yachts in the Seychelles when it was created, the company is now present in the main navigation basins of the globe, through a fleet of more than 850 boats positioned in 47 bases. With his partner Romuald Caillaud, Loïc Bonnet had until now succeeded in self-financing the company's development, whether through internal growth or external acquisition. The company, which posts a turnover of 90 M € in 2016, will now rely on its new shareholders to consolidate and pursue its industrial development, in a boat rental market in full mutation with the development of collaborative practices and boat clubs.
Synergies
By taking a stake in Dream Yacht Charter, Fountaine-Pajot takes a prime position in the boat rental market, where multihulls dominate. The rochelais yard is supported in this investment by one of its own shareholders. Synergies will emerge, as Nicolas Gardies, Managing Director of Fountaine Pajot explains. "This association with Dream Yacht Charter and NextStage is totally in line with Fountaine-Pajot's growth strategy. It reinforces our company's position in the rental world, where Dream Yacht Charter occupies a central place, particularly in the catamaran segment. This alliance will benefit from the remarkable dynamics of each of our two companies and the development of all possible complementarities."
