Perini Navi Group, the Italian shipyard behind the brands Perini Navi and Picchiotti, has confirmed the Tabacchi family acquiring 49.9% of the company in a deal that put the shipyard's valuation at over €54 million.
The Tabacchi family, who previously owned the Italian optician chain, Salmoiraghi & Viganò, which they sold to Leonardo Del Vecchio's Luxottica in November 2016, hence acquire 49,9% of Perini Navi Group via a capital injection of €27 million through their holding company, Fenix.
Perini Navi Group founder, Fabio Perini will retain a 50,1% stake in the company and transition to a role of honorary chairman, whilst Lamberto Tacoli, former CEO of Ferretti Group-owned CRN, will assume the functions of CEO of the new company.
With a strong reputation in the sailing superyacht market, Perini Navi were most notably the brand behind the construction of Tom Perkins' 88-meter Maltese Falcon in 2006, which was then considered a contender to the title of largest sailing yacht.
Delivering just under two sailing yachts per year in the past 7 years, one of Perini Navi's most significant deliveries came in 2016 with the 70-meter Sybaris, which is now on the market asking €88 million. "I am delighted that the extraordinary work that realized a dream was realized a dream was recognized by the design community, as a unique work of art that has inspired and delighted others." commented Bill Duker, owner of Sybaris on the sailing yacht wining awards earlier this summer.
In addition to the Perini Navi brand itself, the group also operates Picchiotti, its wholly owned subsidiary, behind yachts such as the 73-meter Grace E delivered in 2013 but also the 55-meter Galileo G and 50-meter Exuma. Earlier this year, the motor yacht builder has announced the sale of a new 53-meter project set to be delivered in 32 months from signing.
A new success for Perini Navi also came in March of this year with the sale of a new aluminum sailing yacht, which will join the two 60-meter sailing yachts that are currently under construction at the Italian shipyard's facility.
In addition to new construction, Perini Navi also operates a charter marketing and brokerage business for its fleet via its head office and Perini Navi USA. Two service and refit centers are also operated at the group's shipyard in La Spezia and Viareggio.
News of this €27 million capital injection by the Tabacchi family comes just a few weeks after Ferretti Group posted net profits for the first time since 2008 in yet another sign of recovery for the Italian yachting business.