Dream Yacht Charter, Navigare Yachting and SamBoat: Romain Motteau Reaches Acquisition Agreement with PPF Group

September 23, 2026

La Rochelle, 22 September 2026 – Romain Motteau, former Deputy CEO of Fountaine Pajot Group, the world’s second-largest manufacturer of recreational sailing yachts, together with a group of investment partners, has reached an agreement in principle with PPF Group to acquire its nautical charter and booking companies Dream Yacht Charter, Navigare Yachting and SamBoat. Upon completion of the transaction, the new group will operate one of the largest yacht charter fleets in the world.

The transaction opens a new chapter in the history of Dream Yacht Charter, Navigare Yachting and SamBoat. It also marks the passing of the baton between two entrepreneurs in the boating industry. Loïc Bonnet founded Dream Yacht Charter in 2000, which has since grown into one of the world’s leading charter businesses. Romain Motteau, who has spent more than twenty years with Fountaine Pajot Group, will take over and is now embarking on a new entrepreneurial venture, building on the businesses’ development during PPF Group’s ownership.

PPF Group, an international investment company with a presence in 25 countries, entered the boating sector in 2021 and subsequently brought together a number of complementary businesses under a single platform.

Dream Yacht Charter, founded in the Seychelles in 2000 by Loïc Bonnet, has grown to become one of the world’s leading charter and sailing holiday businesses, offering a range of charter and cruising options as well as charter management programmes.
Navigare Yachting, founded in 2001 by Jesper Rönngard and Per Abrahamsson, is an international yacht charter and charter management business, with a longstanding focus on service quality and support for boat owners.
SamBoat, founded in Bordeaux in 2014 by Laurent Calando and Nicolas Cargou, has become one of the leading digital boat rental platforms, and today lists more than 36,400 boats across 75 countries.

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to bring new momentum to these leading brands, alongside our partners and drawing on our collective experience. Over twenty-five years, Loïc Bonnet has built a remarkable entrepreneurial story. Together with the group’s teams, our responsibility today is to build on that legacy, establish the new Group as a leading player in nautical tourism and support its long-term development,” says Romain Motteau.

Commenting on the acquisition, Romain Motteau adds: “The way people engage with boating is changing. More and more customers want the freedom to sail without necessarily owning a boat: greater simplicity and flexibility, and the ability to explore different destinations from one holiday to the next. With their complementary models, the three brands are particularly well positioned to respond to these changing customer preferences.”

“Meeting this challenge will require commitment from all of us. Trust between the new Group’s brands, boat owners and charter customers, our shipyard partners and financial partners will be essential to our success,” says Romain Motteau.

“This new chapter will be guided by a simple priority: quality of service. That means the quality of the experience we provide to our customers, whether through yacht charter or cabin cruises, as well as the quality of the support we provide to owners and the care of the yachts entrusted to us under our charter management programmes,” adds Romain Motteau.

Subject to the finalisation of agreements between the stakeholders and the necessary authorisations for this type of transaction, the deal could be completed before the end of 2026.