Fairline Yachts calls in Alvarez & Marsal for administration

Administrators from Alvarez & Marsal are seeking a buyer for UK luxury yacht company Fairline Yachts. The administrators have secured extra funding from DF Capital, which means production can continue in the meantime.

Employing more than 61,000 people on shore or at sea, the marine sector is a critical component of the nation’s economy, with more than 90% of the UK’s freight leaving or arriving by sea. However, Brexit and the conflict in Ukraine have significantly squeezed maritime transport in recent years – meaning that while the industry was expected to grow by a marginal 0.8% 2025, research from QBE, Oxford Economics and Control Risks found that this was undermined by a retraction of 0.4% the year before.

Even the luxury market of the yacht production sector was not immune to the consequences of these pressures, and the latest casualty has been Fairline Yachts. The firm has subsequently appointed administrators as it looks to shore up its future.

Founded in 1967, Fairline Yachts has built a reputation for crafting yachts for its customers, with whom it has established long-term relationships. The company has four yacht ranges, from 33 ft to 68 ft models, which are sold globally both directly and via local dealerships. Fairline’s expert team of 250, based across two sites in Oundle and Suffolk, include highly skilled craftsmen with deep experience in the industry.

Despite this historic presence in the market, the firm was still vulnerable to market trends. And so, just a month after being sold by Hanover Investors to Arrowbolt Propulsion Systems, the business went into insolvency. While details of the situation were unclear, none of the 250 employees were made redundant – and their roles have since been further secured by the administrators from Alvarez & Marsal, who have confirmed additional funding to keep the company afloat.

Provided by its existing specialist lender DF Capital, the funds will enable the business to continue the production and sale of its yachts for customers worldwide. The administrators are now encouraging any interested parties to contact them to discuss the opportunity to acquire one of the yacht industry's most recognisable brands. 

Joint administrator Michael Magnay commented, “Fairline Yachts is an iconic brand with a committed and passionate team of experts who have established deep relationships with dealers and end customers over many years. The business is known throughout the world for the quality of its craftsmanship and the innovative design of its yachts. We expect that it could have broad appeal, to international investors as well as domestic.  We encourage interested parties to make contact with us to discuss the opportunity to acquire this exciting business.”