Deal Details

L Catterton Acquires AmaWaterways

Technology & Services

L Catterton acquisition of AmaWaterways from Certares

Summary

L Catterton has acquired a substantial stake in AmaWaterways from a consortium of investors led by Certares. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Baird served as lead financial advisor to L Catterton on this transaction.

About

Established in 1989, L Catterton is a leading consumer-focused investment firm, managing approximately $35 billion of equity capital and three multi-product platforms: private equity, credit and real estate. Leveraging deep category insight, operational excellence and a broad network of strategic relationships, L Catterton's team of more than 200 investment and operating professionals across 17 offices partners with management teams to drive differentiated value creation across its portfolio. The firm has made over 250 investments in some of the world's most iconic consumer brands. L Catterton was formed in 2016 through the partnership of Catterton, LVMH and Financière Agache, the family office of Bernard Arnault. L Catterton is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Family-founded and operated for 22 years, AmaWaterways offers river cruise experiences with 25 custom-designed ships sailing Europe's Danube, Douro, Rhine, Moselle, Main, Rhône, Saône, Seine, Garonne and Dordogne Rivers, and Dutch and Belgian Waterways; Southeast Asia's Mekong River; Africa's Chobe River; Egypt's Nile River and Colombia's Magdalena River (2024). Co-founded by pioneering river cruise executives Rudi Schreiner, Kristin Karst and Jimmy Murphy, the company is renowned for its warm and welcoming crew; innovative and sustainable ship design; wellness activities (including a wide choice of included small group shore excursions featuring biking and hiking options); and award-winning, locally sourced cuisine paired with complimentary fine wine. Modern, spacious and tastefully decorated, most AmaWaterways ships welcome an average of just 150 guests and feature onboard amenities such as a stunning Main Lounge, specialty Chef's Table restaurant, hair and massage salons, Sun Deck walking track and heated outdoor swimming pools with swim-up bars. AmaWaterways leads the river cruise industry in innovation, highlighted by the launch of the revolutionary AmaMagna. The company also offers a variety of themed sailings and brand relationships, with sailings geared towards active travelers and families, as well as group and charter options. AmaWaterways is headquartered in Calabasas, California.

Established in 2012, Certares is a global investment firm focused exclusively on the travel and hospitality industries. As of September 30, 2023, Certares has $9.6 billion of assets under management (including co-investments) across private equity, opportunistic credit and real estate. The firm brings together a team with decades of operational and investment experience in travel, tourism, hospitality and travel-related business and consumer services, leveraging deep sector expertise, proprietary transactions and hands-on partnership with management teams to drive growth. Certares is headquartered in New York, New York.

Technology & Services

L Catterton acquisition of AmaWaterways from Certares