Founded on prioritizing creative design and hybrid technology, Wider Yachts has a trio of new shareholders. Among them is a familiar face in the superyacht sector: Marcello Maggi, previously associated with two other yacht builders in Wider’s home of Ancona, Italy. What’s more, under Maggi’s guidance, the intention is not just to continue building hybrid motoryachts, but to do so for a German shipyard, too. Furthermore, the new owners plan to take the company public.
The new shareholders are Maggi’s company, Nautical Hybrid Tech, along with Zepter Group and Hopafi Holdings. Maggi (below) is perhaps best known for co-founding ISA Yachts in 2001. However, prior to that, he also worked for CRN. Zepter Group, led by Philip Zepter, produces, sells, and distributes consumer goods internationally, with a particular emphasis on health-related items and addressing ecological problems. The third shareholder, Hopafi, is the investment arm of the Giovannetti family, with holdings in energy- and sustainability-related companies, among others.
Maggi, who is now Wider’s president as well as sales and marketing director, says more aluminum hybrid motoryachts will come, additionally emphasizing originality and research. “One of the main reasons for proceeding with the acquisition was the incredibly high level of management team and staff, besides the extraordinary performance of the yachts in terms of comfort, noise, vibration, and their eco-friendly soul,” he explains.
Wider Yachts opened its doors in 2010, with an innovative dayboat as its first project. The Wider 42 underscored how the company got its name. The amidships area extended out to both sides, doubling the usable space. This design was a first in yachting. In 2016, the shipyard added its first megayacht, the Wider 150, touted for her hybrid propulsion system. RINA awarded the yacht a perfect score of 100 out of 100 for her sound and vibration attenuation. This was a first-time accomplishment in yachting. Befitting “wider,” the Wider 150 further introduced the three-sided beach club, to extend usable space. In addition, she carried a Wider 32 speedboat in a floodable garage.
In 2017, Genting Hong Kong acquired all of Wider Yachts, having purchased 50 percent five years prior. Following the delivery of the Wider 165 Cecilia in mid-2018, however, the shipyard did not launch another project.
Interestingly, the new owners of Wider Yachts have also formalized a licensing agreement with Lloyd Werft in Germany. It will assist in constructing aluminum hybrid megayachts exceeding 250 feet (76.2 meters) at Lloyd Werft’s facility in Bremerhaven.
Furthermore, the trio of new shareholders intends to take Wider Yachts public within three years.
Wider Yachts wider-yachts.com
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