Malibu Boats Acquires Saxdor for $175 Million
US powerboat builder Malibu Boats has acquired Saxdor Yachts, a leading European designer and manufacturer of premium adventure dayboats and one of the world’s fastest-growing boat brands, for approximately EUR 150 million (USD $175 million), representing a valuation of approximately 7.2x estimated EBITDA1 for the twelve months ending March 31, 2026.
Talking to IBI, Saxdor CEO Erna Rusi confirmed that the deal represents a major stepping stone for the Finnish brand, referring to it as a next phase for Saxdor: “This deal enables a totally different level of growth for the company,” she said adding that the two brands would look to explore synergies to accelerate growth.
Larger U.S. Dealer Footprint
The deal Rusi said, afforded Malibu the potential to leverage Saxdor’s extensive dealer network to help the US builder’s 8 brands increase their global presence, whilst Saxdor would get better access to the US market, and Malibu’s extensive service and production capabilities.
Rusi added that Saxdor would operate as an independent unit within Malibu with operations and production carrying on as a normal. No staff changes are envisaged and the current Saxdor management will remain in place. She also confirmed that Sakari Mattila will continue in his role as Head Designer and remains fully committed to the brand and its future development.
“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 statement.
A Big Step for Malibu
“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 Sakari Mattila, Saxdor Yachts has quickly established itself as a prominent European performance boatbuilder. The company specializes in adventure dayboats that combine advanced hull engineering, Scandinavian design, and functional luxury.
Saxdor has delivered over 2,000 boats globally and employs more than 800 staff across its manufacturing facilities in Finland and Poland.