Posted on March 4, 2026
By Anna Cummins
Sunseeker International, based in Dorset on the UK south coast, has confirmed that a consortium led by KCP Holdings, in partnership with Lionheart Capital, is set to become the new owner of the company following completion of a debt purchase from existing lenders.
The transaction, which includes an agreement to acquire 100 per cent of the shares in Sunseeker, is subject to customary regulatory approvals expected in the coming weeks. The business continues to operate as normal during this period.
Italy’s Orienta Capital Partners and the US’s Lionheart Capital bought Sunseeker International from China’s Wanda real-estate group in November 2024.
KCP Holdings was established in 1952 and operates from offices in New York, London, Singapore and Washington, DC. In a statement, the consortium says that it supports Sunseeker’s existing business plan, which includes investment in product development, the reintroduction of a superyacht offering and changes to the operating model. Further investment is planned across brand, operations, product development, customer experience and workforce.
As part of the ownership transition, Scott Millar steps down as interim CEO, and Andrés Rubio has been appointed permanent CEO. Rubio has more than 30 years of experience in commercial leadership and business transformation across the US, Europe and Asia. He most recently served as CEO of Intrum AB and previously held the role of senior partner at Apollo Management International.
Antony Sheriff has been appointed non-executive chairman. He has been a Sunseeker board member since November 2024, and previously served as executive chairman of Princess Yachts and CEO of McLaren Automotive.
The news comes as Sunseeker continues to undergo a restructuring process. In June 2025, the boatbuilder announced it was making 200 redundancies – around 10 per cent of its workforce – highlighting “softening in global demand” following “political and economic uncertainties”, particularly amid the fallout of Trump’s trade tariffs.
In November, the firm confirmed it was receiving new capital investment from its lenders, Cheyne Capital and Cross Ocean Partners. Shortly afterwards, former CEO Andrea Frabetti departed, and Sunseeker appointed Mark Chinery as its new sales director and Mario Gornati as marketing and communications director.
Rubio says: “I have long admired Sunseeker as the pinnacle of luxury yacht building, and its heritage genuinely sets it apart. It is an honour to be leading the business at such an exciting time and with a clear path to transformative growth. I am also privileged to be joining a highly experienced leadership team and a dedicated workforce who are the heart and soul of the Sunseeker brand.
“We now have committed owners, an established leadership team, an industry-leading Chairman, and a clear plan. With the backing of KCP and Lionheart and an accelerated focus on delivering our ambitions, I look forward to the opportunities ahead.”
Sunseeker International was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Poole, Dorset. The company employs approximately 1,900 people and produces around 90 yachts per year, ranging from 55ft to 134ft. Approximately 98 per cent of production is exported.
Sunseeker distributes its 21-model range through a global network covering more than 60 countries. The firm confirmed this week that it sold five yachts during the recent 2026 Miami Yacht Show.
