Nautical and yachting - Groupe Bénéteau, the world's number two in yachting, has announced that it has entered into exclusive negotiations with the Trigano Group, one of the world leaders in the leisure vehicles and equipment market, to sell its housing branch, namely mobile homes.

A new era is about to begin for the Bénéteau Group.

With the announcement of the sale of its Habitat branch (BIO Habitat), the market leader in the manufacture of mobile homes for the leisure hotel sector, will refocus its activity on boating, at a pivotal moment for boating and yachting.

BIO Habitat is an activity created by the French Bénéteau Group some 30 years ago. BIO Habitat is the leader in its sector and manages strong brands such as O'hara, IRM and Coco Sweet. The company generates a turnover of nearly 260 million euros and employs nearly 900 people in 7 production sites located in France and Italy.

For the Trigano Group (€3.2 billion in sales), a family-owned group and leader in the leisure vehicle sector, namely motor homes, caravans and mobile homes, and leisure equipment (trailers, garden equipment and camping equipment), the acquisition of BIO Habitat is a unique opportunity to establish itself immediately as the European leader in Leisure Housing, an activity in which the group is present through its Trigano mobile homes, far behind the leaders. This acquisition is also in line with the Group's long-standing corporate culture based on external growth operations - the most recent of which was the acquisition of the Abalain Group, a motor home distributor in Brittany, 15 days ago - and the considerable autonomy given to its subsidiaries.

For the Bénéteau Group, the sale of BIO Habitat has enabled it to focus on its core business, boating, at a pivotal time for the sector.

250 million in cash, optimized industrial facilities (France, Poland, Portugal, Tunisia) and reorganized around 9 boat brands (Bénéteau, Jeanneau, Prestige, Lagoon, Excess, Delphia, Four Winns, Scarab, Wellcraft) positioned in 4 market segments (dayboating, real estate on the water, monohull sailing and multihull sailing), the Bénéteau Group is in excellent health, with full order books and a unique multi-specialist positioning, similar to that of Stellantis in the automotive sector.

Against this backdrop, the Bénéteau Group wants to accelerate : 

• the growth and upmarket positioning of its nine boat brands
• its development in new boating businesses, particularly in the areas of usage, digital technology and personalized service to the end customer.
• its technological transformation, linked in particular to environmental issues, such as the use of recycled and recyclable materials, or the integration of alternative propulsion solutions in 100% of its product offering by 2030.

Bruno Thivoyon, CEO of the Beneteau Group, said on the occasion of this announcement: "We are very proud of what the Habitat Division teams have accomplished since its creation in 1994. By joining Trigano, the Habitat business would benefit fully from the development opportunities offered by the ecosystem of a major European player in the leisure vehicle and equipment sector. The Habitat division would thus become one of its main growth drivers. For the Beneteau Group, this proposed sale would mark a major step forward. It would enable the Group to focus its development, innovation and continuous search for excellence on the marine market, while pursuing its mission, "Bringing dreams to water": to facilitate access to the marine world for the greatest number of people, by creating simple, innovative and sustainable living solutions.

It should be noted that the sale of the BIO Habitat division of the Bénéteau Group will not take place until the end of the year, and is subject to information and consultation procedures with employee representative bodies, as well as approval by the competition authorities.

Decoding - in a strong position on the market, on the eve of major capital movements in the yachting sector, the Bénéteau Group will be able to strengthen the positioning of its various brands in their respective market segments, while at the same time working to create offers for customers who do not have the means to acquire pleasure boats. In short, to make boating accessible to as many people as possible.