M&A: British luxury yacht manufacturer Sunseeker to be bought by US-based Lionheart Capital.
- Florence Sutton
- May 9
- 2 min read
The Chinese giant, Wanda Group, has reportedly consented to sell the British yacht manufacturer to a US investment firm in a multi-million dollar transaction to alleviate its debt burden.

Wanda Group, the principal owner of Sunseeker International since 2013, has consented to divest the Poole-based yacht manufacturer to the Miami-based investment firm Lionheart Capital, as reported by Bloomberg. The news agency reported that, "according to sources familiar with the situation," Wanda Group and Lionheart had executed a sale-and-purchase agreement. The transaction may conclude as soon as May 2024, contingent to British regulatory approval.
Sunseeker has refrained from providing a statement regarding the incident. In the previous year, Sunseeker CEO Andrea Frabetti declared that the yacht manufacturer possessed a retail forward order value of GBP 625 million, indicating a sustained rebound after a decline in 2020 attributed to the pandemic.

Under the leadership of founder and CEO Ophir Sternberg, Lionheart is a multifaceted investment firm concentrating on "value growth investments." Lionheart possesses a diverse portfolio encompassing investments in both private and publicly traded enterprises, retail and commerce, as well as residential and hospitality sectors, having supported companies such as the restaurant chain BurgerFi International, reimbursement specialist MSP Recovery, and technology firm SMX (Security Matters). In 2021, the company participated in a consortium that acquired the American powerboat manufacturer Cigarette Racing, which has recently inaugurated its operations in the Middle East.

In 2013, Wanda Group, the largest shopping center operator in China, reportedly acquired approximately 92 percent of Sunseeker for GBP 320 million. Bloomberg said that Wanda Chairman Wang Jianlin stated that the investment was propelled by a 'exponential' increase in China's consumption of high-end luxury goods. Nonetheless, the company has faced mounting pressure following a rise in borrowing prices and ongoing regulatory measures by Beijing targeting the property sector, as reported by Bloomberg.

In early December 2023, Wanda Group was divesting its main assets, including commercial facility management and film divisions, to stave bankruptcy. In January of this year, the Group began divesting properties, including the 193-room Shanghai Wanda Reign luxury hotel, located in Shanghai's renowned Bund district, for an unknown amount. Reports suggest that the sale was worth between around 1.44 billion and 1.66 billion yuan (USD 204 million and USD 234 million). According to The Wire China, the dominance of China’s former wealthiest individual, Dalian Wanda, may be concluding as Wanda Group embarks on a “selling spree” to address its debt and insufficient cash flow.

Sunseeker, established in 1969 in Poole on England's southern coast by brothers John and Robert Braithwaite, is currently led by CEO Andrea Frabetti. Sunseeker ships were prominently showcased in the James Bond films Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, and Die Another Day.
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