Azimut Benetti is preparing a new round of investments, totaling 170 million over the three years 2026-2028, to improve the efficiency of production sites and advance digitalization; and is opening a new business channel for the supply of boats to luxury resorts in the Maldives. A project just launched, with an agreement worth 40 million euros, which will be officially announced on Sunday, the closing day of the Cannes yachting festival. This is explained by Marco Valle, CEO of the group, which is the world leader in the production of boats over 24 meters and is owned by the Vitelli family.
Read more Google: 1.3 million to train 2,500 professionals in the creative industry in Italy
Ask the Sun
The questions are automatically suggested by 24Ore AI
based on the content viewed.
“From September 1st – explains the manager – we launched a three-year plan covering the nautical years from 2026-2027 to 2028-2029 worth 170 million. It connects to a previous three-year plan of 160 million, of which we have already spent almost 60 million.” In fact, therefore, 70 million are added to the 100 that were announced in June of this year (see Il Sole 24 Ore of June 25, 2026), to be allocated to interventions on the Tuscan production plants, between Viareggio and Livorno.
Works in the Tuscan shipyards
With those resources, Valle continues, the group will invest “in projects, facilities, marketing and everything related to the world of digitalization. In Viareggio, for example, we are refurbishing the entire Azimut building and have expanded the warehouses; regarding Benetti (the brand on which the company produces custom maxi yachts, ed.), we will make investments both at the Viareggio site and at the Livorno one. Additionally, we will carry out some interventions at the Livorno shipyards of Lusben (brand dedicated to boat refit, ed.). And all investments, this is important to say, are self-financed. We can afford it because our net financial position today comfortably exceeds 500 million euros. Furthermore, we have a turnover of about 1.5 billion, as we had forecast for this year, and a backlog (the order portfolio including boats yet to be produced, ed.), closed at the end of August, of 3 billion euros, growing compared to last nautical year’s backlog, which was about 2.5 billion.”
Read more New plant for Clivet dedicated to the European market
Besides investing in the renewal of the shipyards, Azimut Benetti is also focusing on a new business channel. “We spent a year and a half of work – Valle says – to close a contract for about 20 boats to supply two luxury resorts in the Maldives. On Sunday, here at the Cannes yachting festival (which closes on September 13, ed.) we will officially announce the signing of the contract, with the CEO of the structure in question.”
Boats from 18 to 25 meters for Malé
It is, Valle clarifies, “an agreement worth more than 40 million. The boats are used to transport clients from Malé to the resorts and then around the islands. The yachts, which are from the Magellano line (models 60 and 25, ed.) and Fly 72, range from 18 to 25 meters in length and are equipped with a customized layout, because, for the service they are intended for, some of these boats do not need, for example, many cabins but rather lounges for guests.” To also offer an adequate maintenance service for the yachts, “we are equipping ourselves – Valle says – to create a structure on site, with spare parts and service, so as to keep these boats always operational.”
Read more Umbria, in municipalities with a cultural vocation incomes higher by over 8%
