Investment company PPF Group has acquired Privilège Marine.
The Group operates in 25 countries and is active in a raft of industry sectors including financial services, telecommunications, media and e-commerce.
The acquisition of Privilège Marine will be the fourth in the yachting sector for the Group in the last three years and marks the second change for the catamaran builder in just a few months following on from Hanse Group’s sale of the boatbuilder to its former CEO Gilles Wagner.
The new owners say their emphasis will be on innovation with a primary focus on the search for alternative solutions to fossil fuel propulsion and on developing the Privilège Marine range.
New product offerings will be introduced from autumn 2024 to provide the best possible answer to the market’s demand while respecting the DNA of the Privilège brand.
Premium brand
“We are delighted to be joining forces with Privilège Marine, manufacturer of the Privilège catamarans, one, if not the benchmark premium brand in the travel catamaran sector, and delighted to have met a team of enthusiasts committed to excellence,” said Didier Stoessel, PPF’s chief investment officer. “This acquisition consolidates our development strategy in the yachting sector after acquiring Dream Yacht Charter, Navigare, and Robertson & Caine over the last three years. It will enable us to develop our expertise in a new market segment and generate additional synergies.”
Gildas Le Masson, newly announced Privilège Marine CEO, will head a new operational organisation.
“I am extremely enthusiastic about joining Privilège Marine as CEO, and deeply honoured to have the opportunity to lead a passionate and committed team,” he said. “I am delighted to be part of the endeavour to contribute to the relaunch of this magnificent and historic builder of premium catamarans.”
Privilège Marine, based in Les Sables d’Olonne, currently employs 200 people. Its order book to date represents a turnover in excess of EUR 50 million.
PPF operates in Europe, North America, Asia and Africa. The Group has assets worth 43.5 billion euros and employs around 52,000 people worldwide.
Privilège Marine is due to launch the new Privilege 650 in April 2024.
