The French group Bénéteau, world N2 of the boat market, has announced the purchase of the Polish shipyard Delphia Yachts, major actor in the design, construction and marketing of sailboats and motorboats, under its own brands (Delphia and Maxi), or outsourced for other manufacturers.

The takeover, which took place on July 12, comes just three days after the Beneteau group took over the Slovenian shipyard Seascape, one of the European leaders in the 4 to 8m sport sailboat market.

Consolidation continues in the boating industries, where the French group Bénéteau (Beneteau, Jeanneau, Lagoon, Prestige, Monte-Carlo Yachts, CNB, Wellcraft, Glastron, Scarab, Four-Winns, Seascape) is clearly at work, with the takeover of the Polish shipyard Delphia Yachts.

The acquisition of Delphia will take place through a Polish entity, of which Delphia Yachts will retain 20% of the capital.

Founded in 1990 and located in Olecko, Delphia Yachts is today one of the most important shipyards of Central and Eastern Europe.

The company, which employs 670 people, had a turnover of 130 million PLN last year, about 30 million euros, for a profit of 9 million PLN (2 million euros). Since its creation, it has built no less than 25,000 sailboats and motor boats.

This acquisition is part of the Bénéteau Group's growth objectives announced in its Transform to Perform strategic plan drawn up by the chairman of its management board, Hervé Gastinel.

With Delphia Yachts, the French group can count on:

• increasing its industrial capacities, with an 18.000m2 production site located in Poland and specialized in the construction of outboard motor boats and small sailboats, segments on which the Bénéteau Group is developing an offensive strategy;
• increasing its development capabilities, with Delphia Yachts' new R & D and prototyping center; the intensification of its product offering on the segments of the monocoque sail and river motor boats;
• internationalization, through the strong commercial presence of the Delphia Yachts and Maxi Yachts brands (a Swedish brand name acquired by Delphia) in the Central European, Eastern and Scandinavian markets.

The acquisition of the Delphia Yachts business should be completed in the coming months, subject to obtaining the required regulatory approvals.

Hervé Gastinel, Chairman of the Bénéteau Group Management Board, commented on Yachting Art Magazine: "To support its development in the dynamic and strategic segment of outboard motor boats and small sailboats, the Bénéteau Group will rely on industrial and the know-how of the Delphia Yachts shipyard, this acquisition reinforces the Group's solidity and is part of its long-term strategy of sustainable and profitable growth ".