NOVEMBER 2018
SOLD TO
Incorporated in 2014 by Laurent Calando and Nicolas Cargou, SamBoat is a marketplace linking boats owners and renters. The platform references more than 25,000 boats of all sizes to rent (sail and motor yachts) and offers a tailor-made insurance service suitable for private boats rental, as well as a concierge service to facilitate these rentals.
Founded in 2001 by Loic Bonnet, Dream Yacht Charter is the world’s leading yacht charter and catamaran cruiser. The company is established in Mauritius and headquartered in Brussels. It recorded €109m of turnover and €21m EBITDA in 2017 and forecasts a 30% growth in 2018, supported by several acquisitions in Germany, Sweden and France.
The acquisition of SamBoat is a strategic step for the Dream Yacht Charter group, which reinforces on this occasion its undisputed position as world leader in pleasure boat rental. The integration of SamBoat allows the group to strengthen its peer-to-peer leasing offer, and benefit from the experience of SamBoat teams to deploy the digitalization of its offer: rental of any type, sale of new and used boats as well as the sale of services.
The acquisition of SamBoat is partially financed by a fundraising of €5m subscribed for €2.9m by NextStage. The acquisition was paid in cash and Dream Yacht Charter shares.
« SamBoat will become the global platform of Dream Yacht Charter, not only for the day charter of boats, but also for all of our rental offer. », explains Loïc Bonnet, Dream Yacht Charter chairman and founder.
Grégoire Sentilhes, NextStage chairman: « Through the acquisition of SamBoat, Dream Yacht Charter is giving itself the means to increase the accessibility of boating to a growing number of people who want to sail. SamBoat responds to the growing need to enjoy a boat without the inconvenience of owning it. »
Laurent Calando, co-founder of SamBoat: « eCAP PARTNER role has been crucial from the beginning to the end of a complex process, involving both financial and corporate investors and acquirers. They allowed us to finalize the transaction in a relatively short period of time, with optimized conditions for all stakeholders. »