Romain Motteau, former deputy chief executive of Fountaine Pajot Group, has reached an agreement in principle with PPF Group to acquire Dream Yacht Charter, Navigare Yachting and SamBoat.
On completion, the new group will operate one of the world’s largest yacht charter fleets.
The acquisition is being carried out with a group of investment partners, with completion remaining subject to final agreements between stakeholders and the required authorisations. The deal is expected to close before the end of 2026.
Dream Yacht Charter was founded in the Seychelles in 2000 by Loïc Bonnet and has developed into a major charter and sailing holiday business, offering charter options, cabin cruises and charter management programmes.
Navigare Yachting, founded in 2001 by Jesper Rönngard and Per Abrahamsson, operates in yacht charter and charter management, while SamBoat, founded in Bordeaux in 2014 by Laurent Calando and Nicolas Cargou, lists more than 36,400 boats across 75 countries.
PPF Group entered the boating sector in 2021 and subsequently brought the businesses together under a single nautical charter and booking platform.
Long-term development
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to bring new momentum to these leading brands, alongside our partners and drawing on our collective experience. Over 25 years, Loïc Bonnet has built a remarkable entrepreneurial story,” said Motteau.
“Together with the group’s teams, our responsibility today is to build on that legacy, establish the new group as a leading player in nautical tourism and support its long-term development,” he added.
And he said customer preferences are changing as more people seek to sail without owning a boat, with greater flexibility and the ability to move between cruising destinations. The three brands’ complementary models leave them well placed to respond to that shift.
He said the new group’s priority will be quality of service for charter customers and owners, including support provided through charter management programmes and the care of yachts operated by the brands.
