Malibu Boats Acquires Saxdor Yachts in $175 Million Deal

Malibu Boats has acquired Saxdor Yachts, a leading European manufacturer of premium adventure dayboats and one of the world’s fastest-growing boat brands, for approximately EUR 150 million ($175 million USD).

Malibu Boats has undergone significant growth in recent years. The Loudon, Tennessee-based company has a portfolio including the namesake Malibu brand, as well as Axis wake boats, Cobalt, and Pursuit. In 2021 they acquired the Maverick Boat Group which includes the reputed brands Maverick, Cobia, Pathfinder, and Hewes.

Saxdor Yachts was founded in only 2019 but has been arguably the fastest growing company in recreational boating. The Finland-based brand owns two manufacturing facilities in Poland, plus another in Finland, and has made a concerted effort to crack the North American market. They released the flagship Saxdor 460GTC in January this year.

Malibu's acquisition of Saxdor will represent a valuation of approximately 7.2x estimated EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) for the twelve months ending March 31, 2026.

“Guided by our build, innovate, and grow framework, we set a high bar for acquisitions – and Saxdor clears it easily with world-class boats, industry-leading growth and global reach” said Steve Menneto, Chief Executive Officer of Malibu, in a press release.

“With Saxdor, we are taking a meaningful step towards our vision of becoming a global marine solutions and services provider. The strategic merits of this transaction extend beyond increased scale and portfolio expansion – it also establishes a global manufacturing footprint which provides for improved sourcing, expanded service capabilities, and a deeper distribution infrastructure – creating a more diversified, more resilient platform that can deliver results through market cycles.”

Founded in 2019 in Helsinki, Finland by entrepreneur Sakari Mattila, Saxdor has quickly become one of Europe’s most dynamic boatbuilders. In just seven years, the company has made big moves in quick succession, including the launch of the well-received 320 GTO, which made BoatBlurb's list of Best Boats of 2021, the 270 GTO in early 2023, which marked their entrance into the prized 18-28 foot category, and the 400 GTO which signified the brand's ability to build and deliver large models. In their first five years alone, the company went from 30 employees to over 500 with revenue increasing 15 fold. They also expanded their production space to over 10,000 square meters (107,000 sq ft). The success put them among the leaders of the European design trend that continues influencing Western markets. Since its inception, Saxdor has produced and delivered over 2,000 boats worldwide and built a team of over 800 employees.

Mr. Menneto added, “What Sakari Mattila and the entire Saxdor team have built over the past five years is truly remarkable. Their innovation engine, world-class design and bold brand positioning have redefined the adventure dayboat category. We are thrilled to welcome them into the MBI family. Saxdor's brand resonates with an exciting consumer segment we've been eager to reach – a younger, affluent, adventure-oriented demographic of boaters around the world who are resilient buyers and attracted to Scandinavian design and functional luxury.”

Sakari Mattila, Founder and Chief Designer of Saxdor, added, "When I founded Saxdor in 2019, I wanted to create something completely different – boats that would speak to a new generation of boaters who value both cutting-edge technology and timeless design. After three decades in marine innovation, I've learned that the best boats aren't just built, they're reimagined. We have an unprecedented pipeline of breakthrough models that represent our commitment to disrupting traditional boating in this high-growth adventure dayboat category of the market. The entire team at Saxdor is thrilled to join forces with MBI to provide greater global access to our award-winning product line."

Transaction Details:

• Under the terms of the transaction, MBI acquired Saxdor for approximately EUR 150 million (USD $175 million), comprised of EUR 110 million (USD $130 million) in cash plus shares of Malibu common stock valued at approximately EUR 40 million (USD $45 million). The cash consideration was financed through cash on hand and MBI’s existing credit facility. Saxdor’s shareholders may earn up to EUR 72 million (USD $84 million) in additional consideration upon achievement of certain operating and financial growth targets in calendar years 2026, 2027, and 2028.

  
  

• Saxdor will operate as a subsidiary of MBI while maintaining its brand identity and operational autonomy. Founder and Chief Designer Sakari Mattila will continue his creative leadership for Saxdor, as well as advise on MBI’s broader portfolio of brands. Saxdor’s management and operational teams will join MBI and continue to drive Saxdor’s product innovation, category leadership and growth strategy.

• Leader in the Fastest-Growing Segment: Acquires one of the world’s fastest-growing boat brands, operating in the $2.5 billion adventure dayboat category – the most dynamic segment in global recreational boating, which the Company estimates to be growing at a 15% CAGR according to SSI data (2023-2025). Saxdor achieved year-over-year constant currency¹ revenue growth of approximately 65% in calendar 2025 and is expected to generate revenue of USD $225–235 million for the 12 months ending March 31, 2026.

• Enhances the MBI Portfolio: Fills strategic whitespace between Cobalt’s luxury sterndrive positioning and Pursuit’s offshore capability, offering premium luxury at competitive price points. Saxdor extends consumer reach to a sought-after demographic of younger, affluent, and “new-to-boating” buyers worldwide. North America — home to approximately 67% of the world’s high-net-worth adults and the fastest-growing major wealth market — represents just 33% of Saxdor’s revenue today, underscoring significant runway for growth under MBI’s distribution, services, and manufacturing infrastructure.

  
  

• Global Distribution Synergy: Saxdor currently distributes through a dedicated network of over 100 dealer locations in more than 50 countries across 5 continents, including North America, where Saxdor enjoys a strong and growing partnership with MarineMax, Inc. For the year ended December 31, 2025, sales in Europe and North America accounted for approximately 50% and 33%, respectively, of Saxdor’s total revenue. MBI believes there is a significant opportunity to scale Saxdor into a global leader in recreational boating by further developing Saxdor’s existing distribution footprint while also exploring long-term opportunities to enhance global reach and consumer access across the combined portfolio.

  
  

• Expanding Profit Margins are Immediately Accretive: As Saxdor continues to scale its production and deliver industry-leading growth, its profitability continues to expand as well. For the 12 months ending March 31, 2026, Saxdor is expected to generate EBITDA margins¹ of 10-11% with an outlook towards further margin growth in Malibu’s Fiscal 2027. The addition of Saxdor will be immediately accretive to MBI’s adjusted EBITDA margin profile and is expected to accelerate the Company’s long-term margin expansion.

  
  

• Valuation and Structure Support EPS Accretion and Continued Capital Returns: Based on the transaction valuation and the consideration mix of 73% cash and 27% stock, the acquisition of Saxdor is expected to be accretive to MBI’s earnings per share in the current fiscal year and significantly accretive in Fiscal 2027. The balanced funding structure results in pro forma net leverage¹ of approximately 1.5x, well below the Company’s stated maximum net leverage¹ of 2.5x, thus preserving the Company’s financial flexibility to invest in future growth initiatives while continuing to return capital to shareholders.

  
  

• Multiple Value Creation Opportunities: MBI Advantage to drive incremental value and operating efficiencies through procurement, scale, vertical integration via Marine Components, and an opportunity to meaningfully increase MBI’s North American manufacturing utilization. Management also expects to extend MBI Acceptance retail financing and dealer service capabilities to Saxdor’s growing customer base, further diversifying MBI’s revenue streams and strengthening the durability of the Company across market cycles. #news #saxdor #saxforyachts #malibu #malibuboats