News Release

Almere, the Netherlands & La Spezia, Italy – February 27, 2020 – YANMAR, a leading provider of marine engines and propulsion systems, and Smartgyro S.r.l., a gyro stabilization technology company, today announced they have entered into a strategic partnership. The partnership includes close collaboration between the two companies and an equity investment by YANMAR enabling Smartgyro to accelerate its design, development and launch of a full line-up of highly advanced gyro stabilizers for recreational and commercial marine applications.
“We are pleased to partner with Smartgyro, a company with deep understanding of boat stabilization, great engineering expertise and compelling gyroscopic stabilization products under development that together are uniquely complementary to our marine systems, equipment and knowhow,” said Shiori Nagata, President YANMAR Marine International B.V. and leading YANMAR’s Recreational Marine Business Unit. “The partnership provides YANMAR an entry to the growing gyro stabilizer market and perfectly matches YANMAR’s vision to enhance boater enjoyment, comfort and safety with technologically-advanced marine systems.”
Based on its innovative gyro stabilization technology, Smartgyro is designing and developing a full range of gyro stabilizers, which will come to market soon.
“We are thrilled to welcome aboard YANMAR as business partner,” stated Smartgyro founder Carlo Gazerro. “YANMAR is a large global company with a leading position, network and decades-long experience in global recreational marine. We are very proud that such a company recognized the uniqueness of Smartgyro’s gyro stabilization technology and is investing in accelerating our growth. In partnering with YANMAR, we will have a stable and strong backing to design, develop and - once ready - provide a line-up of state-of-the-art gyros, for new boats and refit installations, virtually eliminating boat roll to improve the well-being of those on board.”
The partnership includes an equity investment through which YANMAR acquired majority ownership of Smartgyro. Smartgyro will operate as stand-alone entity within YANMAR’s Recreational Marine Business Unit and remains located in La Spezia (SP), Italy.

About Smartgyro

Founded in 2014, Smartgyro is a gyro stabilization technology company based in La Spezia (SP), Italy. The company is designing and developing a full range of highly advanced gyro stabilizers for recreational and commercial marine applications, which will come to market model-by-model soon. Smartgyro’s mission is to bring boat stabilization for vessels from 30ft to 80ft. More information: www.smartgyro.com.

About Yanmar

YANMAR, with beginnings in 1912, is a privately-held, multinational company headquartered in Osaka, Japan. YANMAR was the first ever to succeed in making a compact diesel engine of practical size in 1933. Moving on, with industrial diesel engines as the cornerstone of the enterprise, YANMAR continued to expand its product range, services and expertise to deliver total solutions as an industrial equipment manufacturer as a provider of small and large engines, agricultural machinery and facilities, construction equipment, energy systems, marine engines, machine tools and components. More information: www.YANMAR.com.

About YANMAR’s Recreational Marine Business Unit

YANMAR’s Recreational Marine Business Unit, headquartered in the Netherlands, consists of the companies: YANMAR Marine International B.V. (“YANMAR Marine International”), based in the Netherlands, a top-tier provider of sailboat & small craft engines, powerboat engines, light-duty commercial engines, propulsion & maneuvering systems and spare parts; VETUS B.V. (“Vetus”), based in the Netherlands, a global provider of marine engines, generators and technical equipment for recreational marine craft and small commercial vessels; Mastry Engine Center, LLC (“Mastry”) based in Florida (USA), a provider of engineering, service repower and parts covering a wide range of marine engine, powertrain and equipment applications; Flexofold ApS (“Flexofold”), based in Denmark, a manufacturer of superior low-drag folding (shaft drive and saildrive) propellers for sailboats and multihull yachts; and Smartgyro S.r.l. (“Smartgyro”), based in Italy, a gyro stabilization technology company developing a full range of gyro stabilizers for recreational and commercial marine applications. GetMyBoat, Inc. (“GetMyBoat”), based in San Francisco (USA), the world’s largest boat and watercraft rental marketplace with over 130,000 listings in 184 countries and over 9,300 locations, and Neander Shark GmbH (“Neander”), based in Germany, the company behind the Neander Dtorque turbo diesel 50 HP outboard engine, are business partners of YANMAR’s Recreational Marine Business Unit. More information: www.YANMARmarine.com.