Najad acquires Maxi Yachts and forms Linnéa Group
By IBI Magazine
Sailboat builder Najad Yachts of Sweden today announced the launch of the Linnéa Yacht Group, following yesterday's purchase of Swedish sail brand Maxi Yachts from Nimbus Boats.
The new corporate structure, effective as of today, will see Najad become a brand under the Linnéa Yacht Group, alongside recently acquired Maxi and Aphrodite, a brand that Najad bought in the early 1990s.
Swedish boatbuilder Nimbus Boats sold Maxi for an undisclosed sum. Najad has said it will not be taking on any employees from Nimbus.
At a press conference held in London today, Linnéa sales and marketing manager Magnus Ridderstad announced the group's intentions to grow turnover from €40 million to €50-€70 million, with further acquisitions possible after an initial consolidation year.
"We know it will be tough times," said Ridderstad. "But when markets improve we will be very strong."
An alteration to minority shareholders took place last week. Managing director of Linnéa Alfred van Wincoop now owns 70 per cent of the group, while three minority shareholders have 10 per cent each.
With the relaunch of Aphrodite — which Linnéa intends to be the 'Bentley of sailing yachts' — and the acquisition of Maxi, Linnéa has immediately added seven models to the existing Najad range.
Production of the Maxi will complete relocation to Linnéa's Henån site — acquired by Najad in December last year — by the end of 2009. Najad and Aphrodite hulls will be produced at the group's Åmål site with the rest of the work completed at Henån.
(9 May 2008)
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