NAUTOR SWAN MERGES WITH SANLORENZO GROUP
For 58 years, passion has been the driving force at Nautor Swan, constantly propelling the brand towards innovation and excellence in constructing iconic sailing yachts. This commitment has made Nautor Swan the leader in the segment of shipyards producing yachts between 28 and 131 feet.
Founded in 1966, Nautor Swan today boasts a comprehensive range of services. These include high-profile offerings through Nautor Swan Charter and Brokerage, Nautor Swan Global Service—which provides global assistance—and ClubSwan Racing, the sport division managed by professionals in the sailing world. Additionally, ClubSwan serves as a virtual yacht club, bringing together all Swan owners and fans under one roof.
With effect from today, following its strategy to evolve and never revolutionize, 60% of Nautor’s shareholding passes to Sanlorenzo ownership – a very important and positive step – a very important and positive step to facilitate continued growth and strengthen its reputation as one of the most important sailing shipyards worldwide.
The Boatbuilding Technology Centre (BTC) in Pietarsaari, Finland, remains the main production site for sailing yachts underpinning Nautor Swan’s heritage, together with the pillars of its DNA: elegance, quality, performance and reliability, and enhance the culture and the secular craftmanship, proper of the Ostrobothnia region.
A four year period is planned between the closing of the agreement and the transfer of 100% of the shareholding planned for April 2028. This will allow a gradual integration of the two brands, finally creating the largest player in the high-end nautical segment, focusing on product excellence, production processes, and the sales network.
The foundation of the partnership with Sanlorenzo will facilitate the continuation of researching and developing advanced and innovative solutions. This includes exploring new materials, pursuing sustainability—already initiated with the Swan 88 and ongoing across the entire range, cross-fertilisation of manufacturing know-how, and tapping into new markets.
Leonardo Ferragamo, Nautor Group President comments: “I have dedicated 26 years, together with a skilled and professional team, to developing and transforming this already famous and iconic shipyard into an international brand recognized for quality, elegance, and reliability, the key elements at Nautor Swan’s core. This includes four product lines, services operating worldwide, and the regattas and sport management, as well as the establishment of ClubSwan, a virtual yacht club that has created a vast community, unique for a brand. Today, my goal is to propel forwards a brand that is so beloved and respected and ensure its longevity by entrusting it to one of the world’s leading nautical groups, led by Massimo Perotti, one of the most brilliant entrepreneurs in the marine industry. This will enable it to reach the many and important potentials for which we have worked with passion and dedication over the years.”
Massimo Perotti, President and CEO Sanlorenzo Group adds: “Signing this agreement represents another milestone for our strategy. During the past months, together with Leonardo Ferragamo, who’s been able to transform a yard and its boats into an iconic and international brand, and Nautor Swan Management, a solid industrial plan, in terms of product development and synergies related to production, technologies, commercial and economies of scale. We are talking about a niche brand, ultra-exclusive, whose philosophy is aligned with the one we have in Sanlorenzo. Nautor Swan’s heritage is renewed worldwide for its key ingredients: elegance, quality, performance combined with solidity thanks to the advanced construction techniques, innovation and unrivalled “seaworthiness”.
As per Sanlorenzo, it is very important to develop this asset, always preserving the heritage and the exclusivity of the brand, respecting the competence and experience gained over the years by Nautor Swan. The union of the two brands Sanlorenzo-Nautor Swan – each with its own exclusive and limited offer, dedicated to a proper audience of connoisseurs, not overlapping – will create a unique nautical pole in the world. The best of motor and sailing yachting. Nautor Swan will be helmed by Leonardo Ferragamo retaining the office of President, Massimo Perotti as CEO and Giovanni Pomati as co-CEO.
Visconti & Associati assisted Sawa (for Nautor Swan) in the management of all the legal aspects and negotiation of the agreement. Sawa has also been assisted by CC & Soci, acting as Financial Advisor, Heritage Holdings, acting as strategic advisor for the business plan, and Unicredit as consumer goods and retail advisor in the verification of the financial information.
