KKCG Maritime – a wholly owned part of the KKCG investment and innovation group founded and led by Czech businessman Karel Komárek – has launched a voluntary partial public tender offer to acquire up to 52,132,861 shares of Ferretti Group. The intention is to increase its stake from 14.5 per cent to 29.9 per cent of the Italian shipyard’s share capital.

Following completion of the offer, KKCG Maritime intends to exercise its increased voting rights to support the election of its proposed nominees to the Board of Directors at Ferretti Group’s next Annual General Meeting.

KKCG Maritime has been a shareholder in Ferretti Group since its listing on Euronext Milan in 2023, and has launched the offer to build its stake while offering other shareholders the opportunity to monetise in part their investment in the context of low stock liquidity.

According to KKCG, the offer is not intended to result in the delisting of Ferretti Group’s shares and will not lead to KKCG Maritime exceeding the 30 per cent threshold that would trigger a mandatory takeover bid under Italian and Hong Kong regulations.

Komárek, KKCG’s Chairman of the Board, said: “This offer reflects our intention to build on our long-term investment in Ferretti [Group] and contribute to its future growth and development.

“Our track record of value creation is rooted in an active investment approach, centred on engaged governance, experienced management teams and long-term strategic commitment. We will leverage our proven expertise to support Ferretti [Group]’s organic and inorganic growth opportunities amid the current global sector dynamics.”

Soon after KKCG publicised its offer, it was announced that Kuwaiti businessman Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi had acquired a three per cent holding in Ferretti Group. China’s Weichai Group remains Ferretti Group’s largest shareholder, with a stake of about 38 per cent, while Piero Ferrari, a Non-Executive Director of Ferretti Group, owns just under five per cent.

ferrettigroup.com