AMAVI Capital has launched Fantasi Marinas, a new marina platform established through the acquisition of three marinas on Sweden’s west coast. The platform combines marina operations with waterfront real estate and aims to expand across the fragmented Nordic marina market through future acquisitions.
AMAVI Capital, a European investment company based in Belgium and Sweden, said the Nordic marina market remains fragmented, with many marinas still run by local entrepreneurs and families. According to the company, these businesses often have loyal customer bases, attractive locations and recurring revenues, but as many owners approach retirement, the need for succession solutions and long-term investment continues to grow.
AMAVI pointed to limited waterfront property, increasing challenges in securing approvals for new developments and growing demand for high-quality services as characteristics of the Nordic marina market. It also noted that, unlike many other European markets where marinas mainly focus on berth rentals, Nordic marinas generate a significant share of their revenue from maintenance, repairs, winter storage and other services.
These market conditions align with AMAVI’s focus on real estate operating platforms, which combine real assets, private equity and technology. Through Fantasi Marinas, the company plans to acquire independent marinas across Sweden and the wider Nordic region.
Built on the acquisitions of Fantasi Marina and Västkustvarven, the platform currently consists of three marinas with plans to expand berth capacity, improve infrastructure utilisation and introduce digital tools to support customer experience and marina operations.
The three sites include Källvikens Varv in Uddevalla, the original Fantasi Marina site where the Fantasi Sailing Yachts were built, offering 265 wet berths, dry storage for 190 vessels and full-service mechanical and technical care across vessels up to 44ft (13 metres).
Nearby, also in Uddevalla and operating under the Fantasi Marina brand, Munkeby Varv provides 30 wet berths and dry storage for 200 vessels, alongside the same range of maintenance and repair services. The third site, Lödöse Varv, operates on leased municipal land and focuses on motor mechanics, with dry storage capacity for 100 vessels.
Local management teams will continue leading operations at the marinas, with Johan Jonsson and Fredrik Dahllöf remaining in their roles as partners within the group.
In announcing the launch, AMAVI said: “Through Fantasi Marinas, our ambition is to build the leading long-term home for independent marina owners – preserving the heritage and local identity of each marina while providing the capital, expertise and operational capabilities needed to unlock their full potential.”
