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A historic construction site in great difficulty
Meta, known in the nautical world for its aluminum constructions and craftsmanship, was placed in receivership in April 2025. The financial situation did not improve, despite the presentation of a takeover offer to the Villefranche-sur-Saône Commercial Court. On July 8, the company went into receivership, sealing the fate of a shipyard that had left its mark on several generations of sailors.
The end of an industrial adventure
Headed since 2020 by Philippe Brabetz, Meta still employed nine people, all of whom were made redundant on August 12. The company, based in Tarare in the Rhône region, had made a name for itself with its robust hulls and models designed for ocean cruising, including the famous Joshua, as well as units adapted for offshore sailing.
Assets to be auctioned shortly
The next step will be to auction off the business, leases and equipment. This operation, scheduled for autumn 2025, is already attracting interest from several potential buyers. For the time being, no firm offer has been made, but the Meta brand could find a second life under a new banner.
A coveted nautical heritage
The demise of the Meta shipyard illustrates the difficulties faced by many mid-sized builders in the face of rising production costs, international competition and industry concentration. But the know-how accumulated over more than sixty years and the brand's reputation remain assets likely to attract investors keen to relaunch production or capitalize on the image of robustness of Meta yachts.
