CPP backs Boats Group to tap digital marine marketplaces for long-term, risk-adjusted returns
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is committing US$600m to Boats Group in a co-control deal that targets risk-adjusted returns for Canada Pension Plan contributors and beneficiaries.
Boats Group, a global provider of online marketplaces for boats and yachts, announced a strategic growth investment from Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) and General Atlantic.
CPP Investments has committed US$600m and will have a co-control interest in Boats Group.
As part of the transaction, existing investor Permira has partially realized its investment in Boats Group and will retain a significant minority shareholding, continuing its partnership with the Company.
The parties expect the transaction to close in H1 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.
CPP Investments framed the deal in terms of the platform’s position and the fund’s long-term mandate.
Sam Blaichman, managing director and head of Direct Private Equity at CPP Investments, called Boats Group “a category-defining leader in a market still early in its digital and AI-led evolution.”
He said CPP sees a long-term opportunity in its “mission-critical platform with strong network effects” and a customer-focused model that creates clear value, and added that the fund expects the investment to deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns for CPP contributors and beneficiaries.
Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Boats Group operates online marketplaces for buying and selling boats, including Boat Trader, YachtWorld, and boats.com.
The Company describes its platforms as the world's most trusted online marketplaces for buying and selling boats.
For over 30 years, Boats Group has connected boat buyers and sellers at scale and has been first to market with innovations that move the industry forward.
In recent years, Boats Group has invested in products and technology that make discovering and buying a boat more effortless and enjoyable, while helping sellers succeed.
