Ferretti Group Completes Acquisition of Wally Yachts

In a significant development within the yacht industry, the venerable Ferretti Group has now fully absorbed Monaco-based yacht builder Wally Yachts, with the completion of its acquisition. This strategic move comes after Ferretti initially acquired 75% of Wally's parent company, Sea Lion, in 2019. With this recent transaction, Ferretti holds 100% ownership, sealing its commitment to nurturing iconic yacht brands.

The orchestration of this acquisition began six years ago under an agreement with Wally founder Luca Bassani. The Italian shipbuilding behemoth now enhances its impressive portfolio, which already includes Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing, Itama, CRN, and Custom Line, cementing its role as a leader in both the sailing and motor yacht industries.

Wally has long made waves in the nautical world with groundbreaking innovations since its inception in 1994. From its debut with the sailing yacht Wallygator in 1991 to christening the first all-carbon sailing yacht, the brand continues to revolutionize yacht design. Among their diverse innovations are a hydraulic sail-trimming system, a novel submarine anchor, and lightweight carbon fiber sails. Expanding further, Wally entered the performance powerboats and displacement motoryachts market, delighting enthusiasts with its first models in 2003 and 2012.

The partnership with Ferretti saw the release of the wallyender48 in 2019. Notably, Wally's remarkable accomplishments in yacht design continued with ambitious launches like the wally101, a 31-metre custom carbon cruiser-racer introduced in April 2023, and most recently, hull 1 of the wallywind110 series—the stunning 33-metre performance sailing yacht Galma, which took its initial voyage in June 2024 and made its debut at the renowned Monaco Yacht Show that September.

This acquisition aligns with Ferretti's strategic focus on consolidating its assets and promises to foster brand innovation and prestige. Such endeavors ensure consistent quality, operational efficiency, and design harmony across its global operations, reaffirming the Group's dedication to the nautical industry's future development.

The transaction, which has been structured to avoid any material impact on the Group's cash position, stands as a testament to Ferretti's strategic foresight and resilience, especially in navigating complex regulatory landscapes. The full acquisition paves the way for greater innovations that promise to captivate the yachting community worldwide. Keep an eye on future evolutions from Wally as Ferretti ushers it into a new era of yachting excellence.