Please select your home edition
Edition
Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design

Dream Yacht Group consolidates its shareholding and maintains its position as world leader

by Dream Yacht Group 30 Sep 2021 07:48 PDT
Lagoon 55 © Groupe Beneteau

PPF Group, Central Europe's leading private financial group, and French Groupe Bénéteau, the world's leading boatbuilder, have finalized their investment into the capital of Dream Yacht Group through a joint venture providing €60 million in new equity (60% owned by PPF and 40% owned by Groupe Bénéteau).

Together, the two new shareholders will hold 87% of the capital. The remaining 13% is held by Loïc Bonnet, founder and CEO of Dream Yacht Group, the management and investment fund NextStage, which is reinvesting €2.6 millions euros, and the industrial company Fountaine-Pajot.

A consolidated financial position and reinforced strategy

With this injection of new funds, the Group's financial situation is now consolidated. The capital increase meets the financing needs set out in the business plan that supports the Group's long-term strategy, which aims to strengthen its position as a leader in the fast-expanding sector of nautical tourism, boat rental with or without crew and catamaran cruising.

Dream Yacht Group's model offers its clients the possibility to rent sailing boats in the most beautiful places in the world. This offer, which provides days and weeks of sailing, with or without a skipper, is a renewed success this summer, the beginning of post-Covid crisis recovery in a more appeased post-crisis environment. Bookings have broken records and occupancy rates have been at their highest level all season and remain so today.

In response to the popularity of the model that allows customers to "discover the most beautiful places on earth from the sea, with those you love" post-Covid, Dream Yacht Group is opening up new opportunities for the acquisition of sailing yachts, with private investors who wish to benefit from a system of ownership under rental management. More than 265 new sailboats, 100% French made (70% catamarans and 30% monohulls) could join Dream Yacht Group's fleet in the next two years.

The digitalization process of Dream Yacht Charter's websites and the fast-growing digital booking platform, SamBoat, which joined the group in 2018, is set to continue to accelerate international developments in paid services and sales.

Loïc Bonnet, CEO and founder of Dream Yacht Group, explains: "With the entry into our capital of two global players, that combine very high expertise in industry and finance, to the benefit of our strategy, Dream Yacht Group secures a solid financial platform to accelerate recovery. Our priority will be to meet the demand of a fast-growing clientele wishing to sail without constraints and to intensify the development of our digitalization".

The investing alliance combines the support of a financial investor with €40 billion under management that leverages digital transformation in its shareholdings in order to consolidate the fragmented sailboat charter market on a global scale and the desire of a major manufacturer in the marine sector to diversify into services.

Related Articles

Who made the right call to get to the breeze?
And how technology is changing the Transpac Race to Hawaii Boats racing in the 2025 Transpac continue to reel in the offshore miles toward the finish line off Honolulu, Hawaii, in the 53rd edition of this historic 2,225-nautical-mile race. Posted today at 12:54 am
British Classic Week Day 2
An early start for Classes 1-3 as they prepared to race around the Isle of Wight It was an early start for the British Classic Week fleet on day two, as Classes 1-3 prepared to race around the Isle of Wight. Posted on 8 Jul
iQFOiL Worlds a Aarhus day 3
The leaderboard tightens at the halfway mark after today's racing in a building breeze After a frustrating day of waiting ashore on Monday, Day 3 brought back the action in Aarhus Bay with spectacular foiling conditions and a full day of intense racing. Posted on 8 Jul
Fleet advances to the last half of the AEGEAN 600
In contrast to yesterday's slow pace, the rate of progress has been much improved Most of the fleet of 59 Monohulls and Multihulls who are sailing in this year's AEGEAN 600 have either already entered the second half of the race at the island of Rhodes or are well on their way to reaching this important milestone. Posted on 8 Jul
Mediterranean Regatta season in full swing
A+T instruments seen all over Europe delivering high-level performance for racing fleets As regatta season gathers speed, A+T instruments were seen all over Europe delivering high-level performance for the racing fleets. Posted on 8 Jul
International Moth Worlds at Lake Garda Day 1
Storm cells circling Lake Garda lead to atypical and tricky conditions The 137 sailors representing 25 nations faced the first day of racing in conditions that were anything but typical for Malcesine, with unstable weather creating a complex, yet exciting, opening. Posted on 8 Jul
Temptation/Oakcliff takes line honours
In a thrilling Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race finish The race delivered fast conditions, high drama, and unforgettable moments on the 363-nautical-mile dash to Nova Scotia. Posted on 8 Jul
NYYC International Women's Championship update
Teammates and Competitors Join Forces The strength of bonds forged in competition is a common theme among the second group of skippers and teams invited to compete in the 2026 New York Yacht Club International Women's Championship. Posted on 8 Jul
The Ocean Race Europe Video Preview
We speak to Phil Lawrence, Peter Rusch & Pip Hare to find out more The Ocean Race Europe will take place between 10 August & 21 September, following a debut event in the summer of 2021. The racing is in IMOCA yachts, the same as the Vendée Globe, but this time with 4 crew and an OBR who will document the action on board. Posted on 8 Jul
Sailing's Glitterati prepare for the Admiral's Cup
The depth and quality of talent is truly breathtaking. The 2025 Admiral's Cup is shaping up to be one of the most compelling editions in the event's storied history, featuring a glittering constellation of the sport's elite. Posted on 8 Jul
Rooster 2025Allen Dynamic 40 FooterPalm Beach Motor Yachts