Arkea replaces NextStage at Compagnie du Catamaran
Compagnie du Catamaran, the holding company of the Fountaine-Pajot group, also at the head of Dufour Yachts, has announced a change in its shareholding structure. While the roles of the Fountaine family and the management team remain unchanged, the investor Next Stage, a minority shareholder in the capital of the La Rochelle shipyard, is leaving the capital. He is replaced, at equal level of participation, by Arkéa Capital, the subsidiary of the Arkéa group dedicated to private equity activities. The completion of the transaction remains subject to the approval of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers.
For Nicolas Gardies, Managing Director of the Fountaine-Pajot Group, this change of shareholder is part of a classic investment scheme. The difficult context of the yachting market and particularly the boat hire market, which is crucial in the multihull sector, is not a factor in this decision. "The average shareholding periods of investment companies are five to seven years. After five years, NextStage, which was destined to emerge, has shown itself to be a good fit, and Arkéa has been attracted by the history and entrepreneurial development of the Fountaine Pajot group" he explains.
An extended partnership within Dream Yacht Charter
In addition to its participation in the Compagnie du Catamaran, Next Stage had accompanied Fountaine-Pajot in his acquisition of a majority shareholding in Dream Yacht Charter . The withdrawal of Next Stage from the Compagnie du Catamaran does not call into question this joint commitment to the world's leading yacht charter company indicates Nicolas Gardies.
More broadly, the Fountaine-Pajot Group states that it wants to maintain the course of its investments and its developments thanks to the arrival of a long-term partner. "By joining forces with a long-term partner, the group will be able to pursue its growth trajectory, growth that is both sustainable and responsible" explains Claire Fountaine, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fountaine-Pajot Group. "With an optimised industrial process, we will maintain our capacity for product innovation and strengthen our international distribution strategy," concludes Nicolas Gardies.
