As the news agency Reuters announced in a short report this evening, the French catamaran manufacturer Fountaine Pajot - one of the world's largest multihull shipyards - is about to acquire a stake in Dufour. According to Reuters, a majority shareholding could be finalised in the coming weeks. This is confirmed by information available to YACHT online.
The takeover would create a powerful alliance that would have major purchasing advantages with suppliers and a dense dealer network. Dufour is the world's number three sailing yacht manufacturer behind Groupe Beneteau and the Hanseatic Group.
The merger could help to consolidate this position - especially as Fountaine Pajot also in the charter business via a stake in Dream Yacht Charter is strongly positioned. The boat hire company founded by Loic Bonnet has a fleet of almost 1000 yachts at 45 locations worldwide - an attractive sales channel.
Bavaria Yachts (Nautitech) and Hanseyachts (Privilége) had previously taken over established cruising catamaran manufacturers in France. The Beneteau Group also has a highly profitable catamaran brand with Lagoon. Fountaine Pajot is now turning the tide and wants to be the first multihull shipyard to acquire a classic series yacht builder.
For Dufour, this would be the fourth change of ownership in just a decade. After the shipyard, based in a suburb of La Rochelle, lost its independence, first Grand Soleil and then Bavaria got involved. Finally, Managing Director Salvatore Serio took over the majority in a kind of management buyout, supported by regional banks that secured the financing. The entry of Fountaine Pajot could put the brand back on a long-term footing for the first time.

Herausgeber YACHT