Until now owned by its founder and a pool of private shareholders, Robertson & Caine (R&C) has been taken over by the Czech investment fund PPF, already present in the nautical sector as the majority shareholder of Dream Yacht Charter, the world's leading yacht charter company, and Navigare Yachting, the Swedish specialist in high-end yacht charter.

For nearly two years now, John Robertson, owner and co-founder of South Africa's leading yacht builder, has been looking for a buyer to enjoy a well-deserved retirement!

It is now done, with the sale of his shipyard to a central player in the world of sailing, the Czech investment fund PPF, which continues its development, not in the charter business, but in the construction business!

This acquisition of Robertson and Caine is however not too far from the world of yacht charter, the exclusive distribution of the catamarans built in Cape Town being entrusted to the charter company Sunsail / The Moorings (KKR), which sells, mainly across the Atlantic but also in Europe, according to a charter management program, the 200 Leopard catamarans built per year under its brands, before proposing them for charter on its bases, some units being sold directly to owners under the Leopard brand. 

The amount of the acquisition has not been disclosed, which is still subject to approval by the South African competition authority.

For the investment fund PPF, this acquisition allows it to reinforce its presence in the yacht charter market, while entering the power catamaran market, as Robertson and Caine has 3 powercats in its range, with the 40, 46 and 53.