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Boats Group has secured a strategic growth investment from General Atlantic and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), marking a new phase of expansion for the global online marine marketplace platform. As part of the transaction, funds advised by existing investor Permira have partially realized their position while retaining a significant minority stake, continuing their long-term partnership with the company. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Headquartered in Miami, Boats Group operates leading digital marketplaces including Boat Trader, YachtWorld and boats.com, connecting buyers and sellers across the global boating and yachting ecosystem for more than 30 years. The company has consistently led innovation within the sector, introducing technology-led upgrades to modernize what has traditionally been a fragmented, offline marketplace.
Recent investments have focused on enhancing the end-to-end buying and selling experience through immersive product discovery, mobile-first tools and advanced dealer solutions. Boats Group has increasingly integrated AI-driven merchandising, reporting and workflow capabilities to improve efficiency, transparency and engagement across its platform.
Chief executive Patrick Kolek said the investment validates the company’s long-term strategy to modernize the marine marketplace, while reinforcing its commitment to building a more connected, data-driven experience for buyers, sellers and partners. General Atlantic highlighted Boats Group’s evolution into a tech-first, innovation-led platform with strong positioning to benefit from continued digital adoption and AI-led transformation across the sector. CPP Investments noted the platform’s network effects, category leadership and global expansion potential as key drivers underpinning its long-term investment thesis.
Permira described the transaction as a milestone reflecting Boats Group’s growth, product innovation and expanding global footprint, while reaffirming its support for the management team alongside the new investors. Upon completion, General Atlantic and CPP Investments will join Permira on the company’s board, with the transaction expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to customary conditions.
Source: PR Newswire
