[dropcap]A[/dropcap] group of three companies – the Monegasque group Nautical Hybrid Tech, Zepter Group and Hopafi Holding Srl – has acquired the entire ownership of WIDER, signing the beginning of a new era for the Italian shipyard and announcing many exciting news in the near future. Led by Marcello Maggi, a prominent player in the nautical industry for more than 30 years, WIDER will continue along the route of the green energy yachting. WIDER will be focusing on aluminum hybrid vessels and concluded a license agreement with the German shipyard Lloyd Werft for hybrid yachts over 250′ that will be produced in Bremerhaven, confirming and consolidating the good relationship between the two brands.
The new group of investors – according to the press note – has not excluded the possibility to list the company in the stock exchange within three years.
Marcello Maggi steps in as President and Sales & Marketing Director and will be based in the Monaco office. Born in Ancona, but living for more than 20 years in Montecarlo, he has always been an ambassador of Italian shipyards, such as ISA, which he co-founded in 2001, and CRN
Zepter Group has an ample spectrum of activities and markets but its name has always been associated with high standards, technological research and exclusivity. Zepter Group owns companies as Swisso Logical, Bioptron and Tesla Hyperlight Optics.
Hopafi Holding, the investment vehicle of the Giovannetti Family, controls two publicly listed companies in Italy and Eastern Europe and holds interests in several companies related to energy and sustainability.
WIDER made its mark on the industry with the cutting-edge technology of WIDER 42 and WIDER 32 and established itself with the two multi awarded superyachts WIDER 150 and WIDER 165, pioneering the industry of hybrid and green energy mega yachting.
WIDER 150 has been the forerunner of the serial hybrid propulsion system applied on luxury superyachts and won multiple awards around the globe, followed by WIDER 165 which, not only lived up to all the expectations but also presents multiple features, unique in her competitive set, such as a 3-person submersible, a 14m seawater swimming pool and a touch and go helipad.
Both vessels set new records with RINA, obtaining a perfect score for levels of sound and vibration holding a class notation of COMF (Y) 100/100, never assigned before on motor yachts.
RINA also bestowed upon them the RINA Platinum Green Plus Award for their green credentials.
“I am very thrilled to take this new challenge and honored to be part of the WIDER team”, says Marcello Maggi, WIDER President . “We are aiming to continue the leadership in hybrid motor yachting, boosting innovation and research in all the yachts to come. WIDER will be working in a niche segment and focusing on quality and custom-built hybrid motor yachts. One of the main reason for proceeding with the acquisition was the incredibly high level of management team and staff, besides the extraordinary performance of the yachts in term of comfort, noise, vibration and their eco-friendly soul”.
