Renaissance Partners acquires De Wave Group

The Renaissance Partners fund has announced the signing of a binding agreement to acquire De Wave Group, a Genoa-based company specialising in interior fit-outs for cruise ships and large yachts. RP is acquiring the company from Platinum Equity, whilst De Wave’s management team – who will retain a 20 per cent stake – aims to reinvest, with the support of the new partner, almost all of the proceeds from the sale. The transaction is subject to antitrust and Golden Power approvals, and the closing is expected in Q4 2026. The financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.

In 2025, De Wave recorded revenue in excess of 400 million euros, employing over 1,400 staff worldwide; and forecasts that turnover in 2026 will exceed 500 million. Founded in 2014 through the merger of three specialised and complementary companies, the group serves leading shipyards on new-build projects and major cruise operators on ship refit projects. In the new-build sector, De Wave boasts an order book worth over 2 billion; in the refit sector, the company explains, “the growth and gradual ageing of the existing fleet, together with the renewal programmes of the major operators, are fuelling recurring, high-value demand, underpinning solid profitability”.

“De Wave,” says Riccardo Pompili, CEO of the group, who will remain at the helm alongside the rest of the management team, “is embarking on this venture from a position of great strength: over the past 12 years, starting from three separate entities, we have built the only fully integrated operator for naval interiors, with 1,400 employees and the trust of the world’s leading shipyards and cruise operators. In Renaissance, we have found a partner that understands our sector and shares our ambition to make De Wave an even stronger global platform. Our reinvestment reflects our confidence in the group and our commitment to the journey ahead.”

The Genoa-based group “represents,” as Tommaso De Bustis, a partner at Renaissance, emphasises, “a rare combination of market leadership, high visibility and resilience, with significant growth opportunities. “Working alongside a world-class management team, we see a clear opportunity to further strengthen the group’s global leadership, expand its presence in the large yacht and adjacent segments, and pursue acquisitions.”

The value creation plan, the company adds, will focus on further strengthening De Wave’s global leadership; on expanding the group’s presence in the cruise ship sector, in the refit of large yachts and in related segments; on pursuing targeted strategic acquisitions; on improving operational efficiency and ESG performance; and on further developing the group as a leading global partner for the marine interiors industry’.