James Bond yacht maker gets support from the ultra-rich

Luxury yacht maker Sunseeker posted a 26% jump in sales to £268m last year. Credit: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

The luxury yacht maker whose ships have starred in four James Bond films is forecasting a profit return after a surge in bookings from super-wealthy customers.

Sunseeker said sales rebounded last year up 26% to £268m, helping it sharply cut losses to £1.9m. m from 21.2 million pounds a year earlier.

The company was bought by Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda in 2013 for £300m. Dalian Wanda, owned by Wang Jianlin, once China's richest man, has interests in construction, real estate and film thanks to its stake in Legendary Entertainment, which produced Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy.

In its latest results Sunseeker reports. : “2022 was a year of significant improvement: historical levels of future orders, recovery of gross margin and further growth in turnover.

“Further profitability is expected to improve in 2023 and 2024 due to increased boat sales revenue.”

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The Superhawk 55 and 75 sports yachts were launched earlier this year at the Düsseldorf Boat Show, boosting sales, the report said. . The company intends to offer more than 20 models as production expands.

Last year, Sunseeker said its profits were cut due to interruptions in parts imports caused by Brexit.

The company's yachts and powerboats have featured in many Hollywood films, including the James Bond series. Photo: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Sunseeker was founded in 1969 by brothers Robert and John Braithwaite as Poole Power Boats.< /p>

Sunseeker's yachts and powerboats have been featured in James Bond films including Superhawk 4 , in which the character's killer raced down the Thames as part of the title sequence of The World Is Not Enough, starring Pierce Brosnan as Bond. .

The company's yachts also appeared in the films «Die Another Day» with Pierce Brosnan, as well as in the films «Casino Royale» and «Quantum of Solace», where Daniel Craig played Bond.

Much of the UK shipbuilding industry has shrunk and moved east, but yacht builders including Sunseeker, Oyster Yachts and Princess Yachts have carved a niche.

Luxury car makers have also taken advantage of this. super wealthy buyers.

Ferrari said this week that custom touches to their sports cars, including cashmere interiors, have helped boost sales and profits.