The Dutch superyacht-builder has a new majority shareholder
Dutch superyacht-builder Moonen Shipyards has been sold to a new majority shareholder. The takeover was completed in October and is expected to ensure the long-term financial security of the yard and its clients.
The unnamed buyer is the owner of the 42m (138ft) Sofia, Moonen’s largest superyacht project to date. Sofia is the third Moonen owned by the new shareholder, who purchased his first yacht from the Dutch yard (the Moonen 84 Sofia, now Eleonora) in 2004. He then commissioned a new Moonen 97, which was custom-built to meet his personal requirements and delivered in 2008.
Although Moonen has not revealed the identity of the new shareholder, a source told IBI‘s sister title, Superyacht Business, that he is a Mexican individual involved in mining and heavy industry.
“My experiences with Sofia and Sofia II emphasised the quality of design and build available at Moonen,” says the yard’s new owner. “The yachts were very reliable and everyone I welcomed onboard was impressed by the construction, low noise levels and immaculate carpentry work. So when the time came to fashion my new yacht, the choice to partner with Moonen was easily made. And the same applied when I had the chance to buy into the company as a whole.
“With its skilled staff and first-class management team, Moonen has the sort of uncompromising commitment to meet and fulfil client wishes which I expect from my own businesses.”
Emile Bilterijst, Moonen CEO, says the company is pleased with the new arrangements put in place to secure the long-term future of the yard. “Although Moonen has built up a superb reputation and client base over the past half-century, in the current economic climate new and repeat clients alike expect specific financial guarantees before they will proceed with a new project,” he says. “These are now firmly in place at Moonen, along with the option for trade-ins.”
Based in ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the southern Netherlands, Moonen is a leading builder of motoryachts from 20m-45m (65ft-150ft) in length. The company offers four different types of vessel: custom-series displacement, fast displacement aluminium, explorer and fully custom motoryachts.
