New owner and new management
Placed under administration in February 2024, the Silent Yachts shipyard has been in turmoil ever since, although it has not ceased trading. The electro-solar catamaran specialist, founded in 2009, announces the arrival of a new owner, replacing founders Michael and Heike Köhleur, to relaunch the business by bringing in new capital. Michael Said, German-American investor and new owner through his company Helios Yachts Investments, is also a customer of a Silent 62 currently under construction. Fabrizio Iarrera, already appointed to operational management by the Board of Directors, now assumes the role of Managing Director.
Finalizing boats and rebuilding reputation
The new owner says it has taken over all assets, including intellectual property and the Silent Yachts shipyard in Fano on Italy's east coast. The 140 salaried positions have also been maintained, and current orders for Silent 62s are to be honored, as well as the first 80-foot Silent, expected in 2025. On the strength of this order book, the shipyard intends to pursue a strategy of strong growth over the next 5 years. Fabrizio Iarrera explains: "There are costs associated with creating an entirely new market, and the original business suffered from this, at a time when price inflation was out of control across the board. Our customers are passionate about the brand and the boat, as our strong order book shows. We know we have work to do to rebuild the brand's reputation, but we've been thrilled by the positive reception we've had from those who had already placed orders."
