Three weeks after the signing of the share purchase agreement, the change of ownership of HanseYachts AG has been successfully completed, according to an announcement from Germany's largest shipyard. With the so-called closing Andreas Müller new majority shareholder of HanseYachts AG, the paper continues. We already introduced a First conversation with Müller. And: Together with CEO Hanjo Runde, Müller is taking over the shares previously held by investor Aurelius.
Hanjo Runde: "We will continue to pursue our strategic direction with determination. The new framework conditions, in particular the repayment of the previous bank liabilities, now give us significantly more entrepreneurial room for manoeuvre and open up additional prospects for the further development of our company."
Andreas Müller: "HanseYachts is facing a promising future. I am looking forward to working closely with Hanjo Runde. We are united by the entrepreneurial pragmatism of SMEs and the shared perspective of sustainable, family-orientated entrepreneurship."
YACHT: What are the first measures taken by the new owners in the first 100 days?
Andreas Müller: We are delighted to be opening a new chapter for HanseYachts AG. We are now once again a family-run company - with a long-term, sustainable view of the future. Our focus is clearly on investing in innovation and new products. HanseYachts has worked very solidly economically in recent years and was affected by the current weakness in demand much later than others. We want to consistently continue on this successful course.
How do you motivate the workforce after the tough Discharge cuts again ?
Hanjo Runde: We have accompanied the entire process with the greatest possible transparency and open communication. The boom of recent years and the associated supply chain problems have led to inefficiencies - this has now been overcome. Even though the global situation is currently characterised by uncertainty, the necessity of the measures has been understood by the workforce. Now we are looking to the future - as a family business, we are investing in the future again, and that is exactly what gives us new motivation.
Why was short-time working necessary after the redundancies and how long will it last?
Hanjo Runde: The redundancies were part of a structural adjustment to long-term market developments - in particular to the level after the exceptional coronavirus boom years. Short-time working, on the other hand, is a temporary instrument that helps us to bridge short-term fluctuations in orders in certain areas. We were producing at full capacity until the end of June and are now working short-time on a very small scale in July and August. Our aim is to fully return to normal operations in September or October at the latest. This means that we are significantly less affected than our competitors.
How many people are currently employed at HanseYachts?
Hanjo RoundWe currently employ around 1,000 people at our sites in Greifswald and Goleniów, Poland - roughly half of whom work at each location.
Which specific models are being modernised?
Hanjo Runde: Our entire Hanse portfolio has been extensively modernised in recent years. The Hanse 360, 410, 460, 510 and 590 are excellently positioned in the market. We are also very well positioned with Moody with the new Moody 48. There is currently a strong focus on Fjord - we recently launched the F39 and F490. We have also developed outboard variants specifically for the US market. We still see potential for further developments in Sealine and Dehler, even if the current models continue to sell well.
How will the two major brands Hanse and Dehler be positioned in the future?
Andreas Müller: We will not change the brand strategy for Hanse and Dehler. Both brands are strongly established and well positioned in their respective segments.
Most recently, the Hanse 360 was sporty enough to pass as a Dehler. Are these measures to be implemented with other models?
Hanjo Runde: Hanse and Dehler are two very different concepts - and that remains the case. The Hanse 360 ST is an extremely successful model that has met with great interest from our customers. We are looking forward to the feedback - the demand is already very high.
Will Moody continue to exist?
Hanjo Runde: Naturally. Moody is a traditional brand with a loyal fan base. We currently have several Moody yachts under construction - triggered not least by the great response to the Moody 48.
Which models are currently selling best? Which market, which country is currently the strongest?
Hanjo RoundThe most successful models are always those that are new and innovative - that is clear to see. The markets are developing very differently around the world. In the USA in particular, demand is currently subdued. In Germany, on the other hand, we are experiencing a clear upturn - as are several other European markets.
How large is the proportion of ships that go into charter?
Hanjo Runde: Our charter share is comparatively low. Our main focus is clearly on the end customer market - and this has proved its worth. The charter market will continue to make up only a small part of our business. However, it is quite possible that we will selectively expand our range in cooperation with premium charter providers.
What will change at Hanse in the near future?
Andreas Müller: The ownership structure has changed - a very important step that significantly strengthens HanseYachts both financially and strategically. HanseYachts has developed well, particularly due to its strong focus on innovation. The last very good economic results have shown that the strategy is working. We see no reason not to continue on our course - on the contrary: we want to pursue our proven strategy with conviction.
