Ferretti Group starts nautical year at Festival International de la Plaisance Cannes

The Ferretti Group, a world leader within the sphere of designing, construction and marketing of motoryachts, encompassing a unique portfolio of nine of the most exclusive brands in the nautical world, opens the first, eagerly-awaited event of the 2009-2010 nautical season, the XXXII Festival International De La Plaisance in Cannes, by presenting an impressive 37 yachts, of which 3 are world previews.

During the traditional Ferretti Group Meeting, at its seventh edition this year, the Ferretti Group presented the preliminary 2009 results for the nautical year ending at 31st August 2009. Although the year was characterised by a particularly negative macro-economic situation, the Group performed better compared to the nautical market trend. Indeed, as at 31st August 2009 the Ferretti Group registered preliminary Revenues of around 800 million Euro.

This result, although less than 12% down compared to the 900 million Euro registered on 31st August 2008, is better than the one achieved by the nautical market in average, which registered a drop of between 20% and 30%, over the last year.

This occasion comes at the end of a complex year for the Group, which has managed to respond to the demand of a nautical market that has changed significantly, thus reconfirming itself as one of the greatest examples of Made in Italy in the world. At the end of July 2009, the Group appointed its new Board of Directors and Salvatore Basile as CEO. These important measures have been taken in order to implement the strategic Plan carried out over the past few months, which will enable the Ferretti Group to consolidate its leadership in the nautical sector and continue the growth process , which has characterized its 41 years of history.

Given this context, the Ferretti Group has implemented and is continuing to implement a series of measures aimed at strengthening the synergies of a Group, which encompasses 9 of the most famous and historical brands in the world of pleasure boating panorama and boasts the most advanced skills in terms of naval research and design. With the aim of responding to an increasing need for flexibility and speed in decisions, along with the ability to understand and anticipate its Clients’ demand, the Group has modified its internal organization, centralizing the various functions while focusing on the characteristics and distinctive features of each Brand. The Industrial and Commercial Directions will play a key role, alongside the Organization and HR Direction, the Financial Direction and the Strategic Planning Direction, the latter of which has been created with the aim of best facing the challenges of today’s nautical market. Alongside these directions, the Group Communication will have staff functions.

From the technological innovation point of view, the Ferretti Group is continuing to launch important innovations to order to satisfy the demand of Clients all over the world. In fact, the Group is preparing itself to present an impressive 15 new yachts, beginning with the Festival International de la Plaisance in Cannes. It will display 5 new models at the 2009 autumn boat shows and will launch another 10 new yachts by the end of October 2010.

Moreover, Ferretti Group recently presented FAIR (Ferretti Analysis Integral Recorder), the first integrated system for monitoring the performance of Group yachts during testing, which makes it possible not only to obtain all operating data simultaneously, but also to analyze and process them. The system is exclusive to Ferretti Group yachts and represents the achievement of yet another goal in terms of research and innovation, in order to assure that Clients are supplied with a product that is guaranteed by objective results which conform to its specifications.

From the commercial point of view, the Group still continued to concentrate not only on Europe and the Mediterranean, but on emerging markets too, such as those of Eastern Europe and the Far and Middle East. Lastly, the American market continues to be a strategic area for the Group which, following the acquisition of the assets, brands and activities of Allied Marine in August 2008, entered strategically important sector with high added value. These include distribution, after sales assistance services and contributed to further consolidating the Group’s position on the market during this nautical year.

Important projects have also been developed within the sphere of services to the nautical industry of the Group. Ferretti has always been heedful of its Clients’ demand and recently launched “Easea >show », a permanent exhibition of the Group’s brands’ main yachts, set up at Cattolica Marina. Devised to further enrich the excellence range of services dedicated to its Clients, “Easea>show » is an exclusive, personalized showcase of the Ferretti Yachts, Pershing, Itama, Mochi Craft and Custom Line fleets which, starting from autumn 2009, will involve all the other Ferretti Group brands, too.

From the business point of view, the Ferretti Group once again confirms its great dynamism, through the presentation in world preview of 3 new yachts: Ferretti 560, Riva 86′ Domino and CRN 43 “Sofico ». After the Festival International de la Plaisance in Cannes, the Ferretti Group will, as usual, be present at the autumn boat shows of Monte Carlo, Genoa and Fort Lauderdale.

“This year, more than in past years, I am truly satisfied to be opening the Festival in Cannes together with our dealers, suppliers, partners and the Italian and international press, » declared Norberto Ferretti, Ferretti Group Chairman and Founder. “The year which has just ended, was a complex one for our Group, but we have overcome it and are now stronger than before. It is important not to stop, to do more and more, continuously renewing ourselves and seizing the increasing technological and organizational challenges that characterize and continue to characterize the nautical industry. Cannes, once again, transmits great emotion. The excitement with which boating lovers and nautical companies await our yachts, confirms the great passion surrounding our products ».

“I am very proud to be here in Cannes and this is the perfect opportunity for me to thank the Chairman and the Group shareholders, once again, for trusting me and for the projects awaiting our group, » commented Salvatore Basile, Ferretti Group CEO, during the traditional Ferretti Group Meeting at the opening of the Cannes boat show. “Now we can look towards the future with more confidence, also due to the significant commitment and constant devotion and passion, which have always characterized the Ferretti Group.

International growth, technological excellence and greater and greater attention to Clients and services are key factors for consolidating our leadership and enabling us to look confidently to the future. We are united by the common commitment and passion of a Group, which does not want simply to satisfy its Clients demand but, rather, to make them pleased to have chosen our product ».

Tags: Allied Marine, CRN Yachts, Ferretti Yachts, Itama Yachts, Mochi Craft, Pershing Yachts, Riva Yachts

Category: Industry, Shipyard News