HanseYachts

HanseYachts AG is a German yacht manufacturer headquartered in the city of Greifswald (Baltic Sea). The company is one of the world's largest manufacturers of sailing yachts with lengths of 29 ft (ca. 9 meters) to 67 ft (20.42 meters). The company offers monohull sailboats under the Hanse, Dehler and Moody brands. Motorboats are sold under the Fjord and Sealine brands. HanseYachts is cooperating with the yacht designers Patrick Banfield, Berret-Racoupeau, Bill Dixon and Judel/Vrolijk & Co.

HanseYachts offers several different products. Different types of yachts are offered under each brand. The expansion of the product portfolio is part of the Group's strategy, and the entire portfolio now comprises 40 different models. The Group's sales companies are located in Germany and the United States, and their products are sold by a worldwide network of around 230 dealers. Boats are manufactured only upon customer request.

Corporate affairs

HanseYachts AG is the parent company of the HanseYachts Group. It performs central holding company functions and manages most of the operating business of the Group. HanseYachts AG holds 100 % of the equity in nearly all subsidiaries, either directly or indirectly. The subsidiaries are Hanse (Deutschland) Vertriebs GmbH & Co. KG, Verwaltung Hanse (Deutschland) Vertriebs GmbH, HanseYachts Marken Portfolio AG & Co. KG, Moody Yachts GmbH, Dehler Yachts GmbH, Sealine Yachts GmbH, Hanse Yachts US, LLC, USA, HanseYachts Sp.

History

Founding, rise, IPO (1990–2007)

HanseYachts is originated in an old-established shipyard for fishing cutters and other workboats.[5] The today's company was founded in 1990 – after the fall of the Iron Curtain – by Michael Schmidt, the winner of the 1985 Admiral's Cup.[6] At the beginning, Yachtzentrum Greifswald – so the former name of HanseYachts – focused on yacht refit and other services. The first model Hanse 291 (which based on the design of the Aphrodite 291) was launched in 1993.[6] In the years to come, the company successively extended the model range and grew rapidly.[5] In the late 1990s, HanseYachts and the yacht designers Judel/Vrolijk & Co started their still existing collaboration.[7] In 2003, the range comprised eight models up to 53 ft.[8] In 2007, HanseYachts AG went public (General Standard, Frankfurt).[9] Founder Michael Schmidt remained majority shareholder.

Brand acquisitions and powerboat market entry (2006–2009)

For more than a decade, HanseYachts built sailing yachts only. In 2006, the company acquired the majority of Norwegian powerboat manufacturer Fjord Boats AS and started to develop seagoing powerboats.[10] In 2007, the English Moody brand (sailing yachts) was added, and the creation of a new Moody range with decksaloon and aftcockpit models began.[11] Furthermore, HanseYachts bought the remaining shares in Fjord Boats AS and introduced a first new Fjord model (Fjord 40 open).[12][13] In 2008, the company completed the enlargement of its plant in Greifswald and the construction of a new production facility in Goleniów. In 2009, HanseYachts purchased its German competitor Dehler Yachtbau comprising the Dehler and Varianta brands as well as a production facility located in Freienohl, Germany.[14]

Great Recession, change of ownership and recovery (2008–2016)

During the Great Recession, the boating industry was affected by a slump in global sales.[15] The company's turnover dropped by 57% within one year.[16] A period of high losses began. In 2011, founder Michael Schmidt sold his stake to German Investment holding Aurelius SE, Munich, and left the company. At the end of 2012, HanseYachts closed the Dehler factory in Freienohl and relocated the entire Dehler production to its lamination factory in Goleniów and its main factory in Greifswald.[17] In 2013, HanseYachts parent company Aurelius SE purchased the English Sealine brand (motor yachts) together with plans, moulds, parts lists and equipment.[18] In 2014, HanseYachts started to produce Sealine yachts.

native name lang	de
type	Public
isin	DE000A0KF6M8
industry	Boat building
foundation	1990
founder	Michael Schmidt
location city	Greifswald, Germany
area served	Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Arabia, Asia, Australia, New Zealand
key people	Gert Purkert (Chairman) Hanjo Runde (CEO)‡R1R‡ Stefan Zimmermann (COO)‡R1R‡
products	sailing yachts motor yachts
owner	Aurelius SE (79.5 %)‡R2R‡ Vesting Holding AG (5.9 %)‡R3R‡
num employees	1,370 (2021/22) ‡R4R‡
subsid	HanseYachts Sp. z o.o., Goleniów, Poland
homepage	www.hanseyachtsag.com status: October 2022

Corporate affairs

History

Founding, rise, IPO (1990–2007)

Brand acquisitions and powerboat market entry (2006–2009)

Great Recession, change of ownership and recovery (2008–2016)

Current models

Sailing yachts

Motor yachts

Sales figures and turnover

Awards

External links

References