Azimut Benetti acquires major Brazilian shipyard

Azimut Benetti SpA, the world's largest private yachting group, has acquired Intermarine, the shipyard which currently handles 60 per cent of Brazil's nautical business.

The contract entitles Azimut Benetti to manage the 20,000-square-metre facility which employs over 900.

Besides its boat construction business, Azimut Benetti is also involved in the construction of shipyards in Italy and the operation of tourist-oriented marina infrastructures. The group is showing strong interest in the yachting industry in Malta.

"Thanks to this acquisition, Intermarine will have even greater access to the expertise of our group in terms of innovation, technology, design, and international profile, to maintain its leadership and the credibility it already enjoys in Brazil," said Paolo Vitelli, the founder, owner and president of the Azimut Benetti Group. Azimut Benetti boasts three brands, Azimut, Benetti and Atlantis which together have 40 models of open/sport yachts, flybridge yachts and megayachts in production, cumulatively the widest range of models in the world.

The company has seven shipyards in Torino, Savona, Varazze, Viareggio, Livorno, Sano and Piacenza covering a total of over a million square metres and 138 offices in 67 countries.

Azimut Benetti is represented locally by Esprit Yachting Ltd.