Initial public offerings (IPO) are the stuff of most startups' dreams, yet whereas they have been a strong vehicle for exits in other sectors, the rare yachting firms that have listed their shares on public markets have often struggled to perform on stock exchanges.


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In July 2017, Global Yachting Group, the holding company behind several superyacht painting and maintenance brands such as Pinmar and Rolling Stock went public on London's AIM exchange. This followed a management buyout backed by private equity firm Lonsdale Capital in 2016. With revenues of €54.6 million in 2016 and an EBITDA of €6.7 million, the holding was valued at £55 million following its IPO.

Since, however, its share price has dropped from over £140 per share to just £34, and its market capitalisation dropped down to just £16.25 million, nearly a 70% drop in just over a year. The drop was primarily caused by the market reacting poorly to a drop in new build business secured by the group, which broke even in the first half of 2018. In its statement, Remy Millot, however remained confident business would pick up in coming quarters.



On the brokerage side, YCO has famously been the highest profile firm to attempt a public offering on London's AIM exchange back in 2008. Its shares were then trading at 49 pence per share on the back of high profile clients and revenues leading to a valuation of near £25 million. Shareholders included the co-founders, the Monegasque Pastor family, and a set of investment firms. However, after 4 years of a difficult market, its share price dropped from 49p to 3p per share.

Ultimately, YCO chose to delist from the public markets in 2012, despite recording £27 million in revenue in 2010 and £588,000 in net profits. After delisting, Fifty Four Four Ltd, a company owned by Charles Birkett, YCO founder and CEO, gathered 50.4% of YCO Group's share capital and made a mandatory offer to the minority to buy them out at 1p per share, giving the business a £485,000 valuation. Since delisting, YCO has continued to be a dominant player in the superyacht brokerage and management space, representing yachts such as the 119-meter M/Y A at one time.



The drive of the superyacht market to make an IPO work likely comes from the success of the strategy in the smaller boating segment. Beneteau, one of the largest players in the space with sales of over €1.2 billion in 2017, has been public since 1989, its share value rising over 700% since. Primarily active in 10-20m boat construction, the company is currently sitting at a market cap of €1.16 billion.

MarineMax, a leading US boat dealer went public back in 1998 at $13,75 per share, trading today at twice the valuation after a strong 20x recovery since the 2008 financial crisis, which saw its stock fall to under $2 per share in 2009. Today MarineMax is valued at over $600 million. Mastercraft, the famous powerboat manufacturer went public in 2015 at under $16 per share and trades today at over $32 per share with a valuation of over $600 million.



Superyachts' difficult financial forecasting and small market in absolute unit numbers continues to puzzle public investors, strangling the sector into resorting to purely private funding and capping its exit potential. Some, however, remain on the hunt for a formula to solve the public markets for superyachts with leading companies like Gulf Craft contemplating a listing in the near future. 

Latest News

50m Orion Delivered by Heesen
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2025 Superyacht Honours Judging Completed in Amsterdam
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Wally Introduces New Performance Racing Yacht wallyrocket71 at Loro Piana Giraglia 2025
Wally has officially presented its latest high-performance racing yacht, the wallyrocket71, during the 2025 Loro Piana Giraglia regatta. The 21.6-meter maxi yacht was developed through collaboration between Wally's technical team, designer Botin Partners, and owner Giovanni Lombardi Stronati, with construction completed by King Marine shipyard.The wallyrocket71 represents Wally's continued commitment to competitive sailing innovation, featuring advanced design elements including twin rudders, a high-performance bulb keel, and a sophisticated 2.7-ton water ballast system capable of transferring sides in approximately six seconds. With a displacement of 12 tons, the yacht is approximately three tons lighter than comparable Maxi 72 class vessels while maintaining similar sail area and power.Alberto Galassi, CEO of Ferretti Group, commented: "First and foremost, I want to express my thanks to the owner, Giovanni Lombardi Stronati, whose trust in this ambitious vision from day one made it all possible. With the wallyrocket71, Wally sets sail into an exciting new chapter in competitive yacht racing, launching a vessel designed to be one of the fastest in its class."Initial sea trials conducted in Valencia demonstrated the yacht's performance capabilities, achieving upwind speeds of 10.5-11 knots and matching wind speed downwind. Adolfo Carrau of Botin Partners explained the design approach: "We started from a blank sheet of paper, asking how we could beat the most competitive Maxi 72s on corrected time. When they were designed, it was to a box rule, so many parameters were already set. Now, as everyone is optimizing their boats under IRC rules, there is a lot more freedom."The racing crew, including tactician Vasco Vascotto and strategist Guillermo Parada, reported positive initial impressions of the yacht's handling and performance. Vascotto noted: "After only a few days on the water, I'm really impressed by both the construction quality and performance." Parada added: "The boat's performance is in line with our expectations: it is a complex and high-performing vessel that requires careful handling but is very exciting."The wallyrocket71 will compete in major Mediterranean events including the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo and Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, following its debut at the Loro Piana Giraglia.Wally's racing fleet continues to demonstrate strong performance in the 2025 season, with 15 yachts scheduled to compete across various events. Notable recent results include victories by Wally Cento V at the RORC Nelson's Cup in Antigua and dominant performances by Tilakkhana II at Palmavela. The wallyrocket51, Wally's smaller performance model, has also shown competitive results at the Central and Southern Tyrrhenian ORC National Championship.The remainder of the 2025 racing calendar includes prestigious events such as the Admiral's Cup in Cowes, the Rolex Fastnet Race, and the season-ending Rolex Middle Sea Race in Malta. Wally's growing fleet of performance yachts, ranging from the wallyrocket series to the larger Cento models, continues to establish the brand's position in competitive sailing circles.The wallyrocket71 project represents approximately 18 months of development from initial concept to launch, with the design team focused on creating a versatile yacht capable of strong performance across various wind conditions and course configurations. The yacht's construction at King Marine incorporated advanced composite materials and weight-saving techniques to achieve its target displacement.With the introduction of the wallyrocket71 and continued success of its racing fleet, Wally maintains its commitment to developing high-performance sailing yachts that combine cutting-edge technology with competitive results across international regatta circuits.Credits: Wally
114m Luna Listed for Sale
Eastwind Yachts has been appointed as the central sales agent for the 114.2-meter expedition yacht Luna, currently available for €270 million. Built by Lloyd Werft in 2010 and refitted in 2015/16, the vessel is undergoing additional refit work before delivery to a new owner.The Newcruise-designed exterior and Donald Starkey interior accommodate 18 guests in 9 suites with a crew of 51. Luna's steel hull and aluminum superstructure provide a 9,500-nautical-mile range at 16.8 knots cruising speed, with a top speed of 22 knots. The diesel-electric propulsion system and ice-class hull enable global exploration in various conditions.Key features include twin helipads, a swimming pool, beach club, full spa with steam room and sauna, cinema, and two tender garages adjacent to a gym. The yacht's stabilization system ensures comfort at sea."Luna represents the pinnacle of expedition yachting with proven global capability," said an Eastwind Yachts representative. The vessel is currently the world's second-largest expedition yacht.Interested parties can contact Eastwind Yachts for viewings and additional specifications.Credits: Eastwind Yachts; Yacht Harbour archive
New Appointment: Anna Silvesjö as Viken Group New CEO
Viken Group, a global marine design firm specializing in cruise ships and superyachts, has appointed Anna Silvesjö as Chief Executive Officer. Silvesjö previously served as Partner and Group Chief Financial Officer of the company, which owns design studios TDoS (Tillberg Design of Sweden), Hot Lab, and Thalia Marine.Silvesjö outlined her strategic priorities for the group: "Viken Group will continue to expand into new market segments while deepening partnerships with clients through our on-brand design philosophy. Our design solutions align with each client's brand identity, culture, and target audience." She emphasized design excellence, commercial performance, and talent retention as key focus areas.Anna SilvesjöA central initiative under Silvesjö's leadership will be the development of Navigator, the group's integrated service platform for maritime projects. "Rooted in decades of experience across cruise ships, expedition yachts, and private yachts, Navigator simplifies the complexity of shipbuilding while ensuring rigorous cost control throughout development and construction," said Fredrik Johansson, Viken Group Co-Founder.The leadership transition occurs as the marine design industry continues to evolve, with Silvesjö representing one of few female executives in the sector. Her appointment reflects the group's emphasis on financial and operational management combined with design expertise.Viken Group's three subsidiaries maintain distinct specializations: TDoS in cruise ship design, Hot Lab in superyacht concepts, and Thalia Marine in naval architecture and engineering. The group currently operates across multiple international markets, serving both new construction and refit projects.No additional executive changes were announced alongside Silvesjö's promotion. The transition takes immediate effect, with Silvesjö assuming full operational responsibility for the group's global activities.Credits: Viken Group