The transaction, which remains subject to regulatory approvals, would place the Poole-based builder under new ownership for the third time in less than two years.
Leadership Changes Planned as Deal Progresses
The transaction is expected to begin with the transfer of Sunseeker’s existing debt from its current lenders to KCP. Once that step is completed, KCP intends to acquire 100 percent of the company’s shares. The ownership shift will also bring changes to the executive team. Scott Millar, who has served as interim chief executive since December 2025, will step down following completion of the transition.
Andrés Rubio is expected to take over as permanent CEO. Rubio previously led European credit management firm Intrum and has held senior roles at Apollo Management International, Morgan Stanley Principal Investments, and Cerberus Capital Management.
Industry sources cited by Sky News indicate that Antony Sheriff is likely to take on the role of non executive chairman. Sheriff previously served as executive chairman of Princess Yachts from 2016 until the company’s sale to KPS Partners in 2023. Earlier positions include chief executive of McLaren Automotive and senior roles at Aston Martin and Pininfarina. He joined Sunseeker’s board as a non executive adviser in November 2024.
Strategic Direction Under New Ownership
An internal notice sent to Sunseeker employees stated that KCP supports the company’s existing business strategy. This includes continued investment in new product development, a renewed focus on the superyacht segment, and further operational changes within the business.
KCP was founded in 1952 and maintains offices in New York, London, Singapore, and Washington D.C. The internal communication described the firm’s involvement as a long term commitment to the company.
Regulatory Approvals Still Required
The transaction remains subject to regulatory review and may be examined under the United Kingdom’s National Security and Investment Act, which allows the government to assess deals involving strategically important assets.
Sunseeker’s ownership and operation of several marina sites means the acquisition may require additional scrutiny before final approval. A spokesperson representing the incoming ownership group declined to comment on the deal.
A Challenging Period for the British Builder
The proposed acquisition follows a turbulent period for Sunseeker. The company was sold to Lionheart Capital and Orienta Capital Partners in November 2024, ending 11 years of ownership by Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group.
In 2025 the company announced restructuring measures after global demand softened and trade tariffs affected export markets. Up to 200 job cuts were initially proposed, though the final number of compulsory redundancies was reduced to around 50, with additional new roles created elsewhere in the business.
Later that year, Sunseeker’s lenders Cheyne Capital and Cross Ocean Partners injected fresh capital while advisory firm Teneo was appointed to oversee the restructuring process. Chief executive Andrea Frabetti stepped down in December 2025 after six years in the role, with Scott Millar appointed interim CEO.
Sunseeker Models Currently in Build
Despite the ownership transition, production continues across several key Sunseeker models currently in the order book. According to YachtBuyer MarketWatch, the largest yacht database in the world, Sunseeker currently has 33 yachts either in build or on order.
The 41m Sunseeker 134 Superyacht remains the flagship of the range, designed as a tri deck yacht with substantial interior volume for extended cruising. The Sunseeker 100 Yacht sits just below it in the lineup as a large flybridge model aimed at long range cruising.
Other models currently in production include the Sunseeker 94 Yacht and the Sunseeker 95 Yacht, both established platforms within the builder’s performance flybridge segment. Rounding out the group is the Sunseeker 82 Ocean Enclosed, developed with a fully enclosed upper deck configuration suited to markets where protection from the elements is important.
Pending regulatory approval, the deal would usher in a new chapter for Sunseeker after a period of restructuring and leadership change. Attention will now turn to how the new ownership supports the builder’s future strategy.
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