October 31, 2007

Monthly News - October 2007

- pic of the month - Baia 70 Italia Best in Show 2007 Genoa

Aicon reports revenue increase

The Board of Directors of Aicon, an Italian Group based in Messina active in the designing, building and selling of luxury motoryachts and megayachts, has approved the quarterly financial statements as of August 31, 2007. Consolidated net revenues for the fourth quarter of FY 2006/2007 amounted to €34.4 million, which is an increase of 56.4% compared to approximately 22.0 million in the fourth quarter of FY 2005/2006. The improvement, in line with budgeted results, is attributable to the entry into full operation of the production of models already introduced on the market, as well as to the valorization of work in progress related to boats introduced on the market during the current financial year, such as Aicon 75 Fly, or to be introduced on the market in the coming months, such as 82 Open and 110 Navetta. The net result was approximately 4.1 million, equal to 11.8% of revenues.

Aicon Presents Four year business plan

Aicon Group, an Italian Group based in Messina active in the designing, building and selling of luxury motoryachts and megayachts, today presented the group’s four-year business plan to stakeholders. The market forecasts for the four-year period 2007/2008 – 2010/2011 point to strong growth in the luxury yacht segment, driven above all by the major producers whose growth is ahead of the market average. The sector is highly fragmented and the industry is currently undergoing a process of concentration. In this scenario, Aicon aims to consolidate its position in both domestic and international markets, with the goal of becoming a leading global player in the industry within the next four years. The business plan envisages significant investment in order to extend the range of vessels under the Aicon and Morgan brands, in addition to launching two new projects with new brands for the production of “High Performance Yachts” and “Long Range Maxi Yachts”, offering customers an innovative yachting experience. In the four years covered by the plan the Aicon group expects to launch a total of 22 new models and to expand its production areas from the existing 120,000 to 300,000 square meters, including 140,000 square meters indoor area. Taking into account outsourced activities, the workforce is due to increase from approximately 1,250 in the current financial year to around 3,000 in the last year of the plan. The Aicon group’s margins are among the highest in the luxury market sector at international level. The return on average capital employed at the end of the plan is expected to be approximately 49%. Investment over the period as a whole is forecast to total around €198 million. The group expects to make limited recourse to financial leverage and therefore forecasts net debt of approximately €28 million at the end of the period covered by the plan, amounting to 17.5%. Investment will focus on increasing production capacity and boosting R&D, after-sales services and international marketing, with the opening of three branch offices in London, New York and Shanghai.


Azimut Yachts presents 24/7 Assistance at Sea and Extented Warranty Package

Azimut officially presents an extended warranty package and a round-the-clock assistance service valid anywhere in the world which the world leader in luxury yachting will now be offering its customers. First not just in luxury yacht production but also in after-sales service. When purchasing an Azimut yacht it is now possible to benefit from a warranty extension for a total of three years from the purchase. A service that only Azimut Yachts offers on the world yachting market that includes the possibility of having two additional service visits at authorized dealers anywhere in the world in the second and third year after delivery of the boat. In detail, these are two complete service visits, made up of 100 checks each in addition to renewal of the antifouling paint and the zinc anodes, that are added to the two service visits foreseen for the first year. Offering a warranty extended to three years points up the excellent quality of Azimut yachts, the result of the great attention to technical and production processes, to the selection of component suppliers and to the close collaboration right from the design phase with the best operators on the market. This “Master Peace package” includes the possibility of activating a 24/7 assistance service everywhere in the world, called Skippermate Assistance, a policy designed by 24 assistance that includes five-star services for Azimut Yachts owners in case of necessity: sending replacement parts and tracking down specialized technical personnel, an online interpreter, a replacement car of a superior category, hotel accommodation, information on medical and bureaucratic issues, storage expenses, return home or continuation of the journey, and even a courtesy captain in case of emergency


Azimut-Benetti Group with Sant-Anna of Pisa Superior School

The Azimut-Benetti Group signed an agreement for the year 2007-2008 with Research and Development centre and the Superior School Sant'Anna of Pisa, for excellence in the research and formation of the scientific and social sector. The collaboration between the two parties has been going on for 2 years and had 3 types of activities: industrial research supplied by the R&D, research on advanced technology and the eventful development in the nautical field and last formation intervention. The area of research in the last 2 years included the following: Fuzzy Logic a system to control the asset of the yacht in navigation and during mooring manures, Shape Memory Alloy to use for fire fighting systems using the shape and characteristics of the materials, Magnetereologic Electrologic Fluid for vibration reduction by engine and generators and Nano Structural Materials of which applications includes coating systems to reduce drag and reduce biofouling. The collaboration between Azimut’s R&D and Sant Anna school concentrate in the study for the application of new technologies which will then be put in a prototype laboratory yacht realized for the experiment in hand. The objective for the year 2007/08 is to continue with this course of the growing R&D department. Azimut-Benetti R&D will also use the Sant Anna School for the definition of a formation program to insert new researchers in new projects at the function of the new yachts.


Gruppo Baglietto is Founded

“Gruppo Baglietto” is the industrial shipbuilding centre for pleasure crafts of Camuzzi Spa, the multinational company founded in Milan in 1929. The nautical centre was established in 2004 through the acquisition by Camuzzi of the Baglietto shipyard (a long-established yachting company with operative headquarters in Varazze and La Spezia) and the Pisa shipyard in 2005. Camuzzi’s acquisition is significant for the industry, as witnessed by the strong relaunch of the two long-established and internationally renowned Italian shipbuilding brands. The decision to use the Baglietto name (Gruppo Baglietto) for the Camuzzi centre was taken to capitalize on the enormous reputation that the brand has built up over the course of its 150 years in business. Today the mission of the group is to optimize the two portfolio brands and develop them as leading players on the global market with the help of a vision that has long been supported by the values of Italian style. The two brands will however continue to clearly maintain their distinctive identities and their specific qualities. For the Baglietto brand this means technology, performance, sporty design and custom-made production, whilst the Pisa shipyards are known for their class, sophistication, quality, comfort and elegance. The “Gruppo Baglietto” also includes: the Gruppo Baglietto Montecarlo (specialized in chartering) and the Gruppo Baglietto Tunisia (that houses the two Tunisian production plants specializing in composite materials).


Baia win Best in Show 2007 in Genoa

Italia 70’, the latest model of Cantieri di Baia, obtained a big success within visitors and operators on the occasion of 47° Genoa International Boat Show. A lot of people visited our stand in order to know technological innovation that bring Italia 70’ to receive the award for “Best in Show 2007”. The award was assigned for the innovative design and the new technical solutions in development of the space between interior and exterior, projected by engineer Alberto Ascenzi and architect Carlo Galeazzi and built by “Cantieri di Baia”. All our models presented in Genoa received big attention too. In particular our restyles: One 43’ with total carbon rigid top and aft hydraulic gangway .Aqva 54’ and Flash 48’ presented with new essences in grey oak and solid wood in wengè, parquet in wengè with leather marquetry. Last but not least the metal livery and sofa covering in Sunbrella.


Burger Elects Ron Cleveringa as Vice President Sales and Marketing

Burger Boat Company announced today the appointment of Ron Cleveringa to the newly created position of Vice President Sales and Marketing. Joining Burger Boat Company in April 2000, as a Naval Architect, Ron was promoted to the Project Engineering Team in January 2007. Ron received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1984. He also completed a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Grand Valley State University in 1994. Having been actively engaged in the marine industry since graduating from the University of Michigan, Ron had been employed by other yacht building companies in the United States and internationally, before joining Burger more than seven years ago. A family man, Ron and his wife June have five children ranging in ages from 15 to 24. He will continue to reside and office in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Reporting directly to Jim Ruffolo, President of Burger Boat Company, Ron will begin in his new position immediately.


Canados Wins World Yacht Trophies Award

Thanks to the original design of its interiors, the Canados 110’ Mikimar, the largest yacht of the fly-bridge range of the yard, has outclassed its competitors, winning the sought after “World Yachts Trophies Award” as best yacht over 24 meters in the Interior Design category. The ceremony took place on the occasion of the usual gala evening organized by LuxMedia Group during the Festival de la Plaisance. The Canados Mikimar outperformed the numerous yachts in the competition, thanks to the sophisticated and harmonious design of its interiors, a project in collaboration with Salvagni Architetti of Rome, which is characterized by flexibility, continuity, and the skilful use of lighting.


Couach Creates Yacht Liner Company

As part of its service activity development, COUACH has decided to become involved in the transatlantic transport of yachts of all sizes, through the creation of the Yacht Liner Company. This new activity will be guaranteed by a special transporter, which will embark on its first trip from Europe to Fort Lauderdale at the beginning of January 2008.


Ferretti Group 2006/007 Results

With 50 yachts on show, of which 28 in the sea and 22 on land, Ferretti Group stands out as the undisputed world leader of the luxury yacht segment at the Genoa Boat Show. The Group stand is the largest and most impressive exhibiting space both at the entire show and in the Group’s history. A total surface area of over 7,000 square metres (4,000 m² on land and approx. 3,000 m² in the sea) hosts 50 yachts, of which 6 world previews and 8 Italian previews. A staff of almost 500 is on hand to attend to an estimated total of several tens of thousands of visitors, making it the perfect backdrop for Ferretti Group to announce its outstanding results for the nautical year running from 1st September 2006 to 31st August 2007. The Group’s Production Value reached 933 million Euros, marking a +21% rise compared with the 770 million registered last year. The Orders placed in 2006-2007 reached 1 billion Euros, and the Order Portfolio rose to cover approximately 70% of annual production. The EBITDA was approximately 158 million Euros, a rise of approximately +34% on last year’s 118 million. This brings the overall profit of Ferretti Group to over 17% on production value, up almost 1.5 percentage points on last year. The number of employees rose significantly too, from 2,700 in 2005-2006 to over 3,000 in 2006-2007, an increase of +11% year on year. Ferretti Group also continued its drive for innovation, with investments of over 50 million Euros made last season in technological innovation, new product development and increasing production capacity. Ferretti Group plans to launch over 50 new models over the next 3 years. The first few months of the 2007-2008 nautical year have made an excellent start, too, and will be able to count on the contribution of the 6 international previews presented by the 9 brands during the Genoa Boat Show. As far as export is concerned, Ferretti Group continues to implement the internationalisation strategy set up a few years ago. The incidence of the foreign sales of the Italian brands rose by almost 10 points, touching on 70% in 2006-2007, to which the foreign sales of the Group abroad are added. This increase is mainly due to greater sales on the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe markets, and to sales in Central America, Latin America and the Far East.

Alessandro Martorana Dresses Ferretti Yachts

Two great "Made in Italy" names expressing the highest standards of craft skills meet to create an unusual union between the worlds of high-quality tailoring and luxury yachting. The Alessandro Martorana studio has in fact made 150 men's and women's outfits, all tailor-made, to clothe top management and the whole Ferretti Yachts team in an unmistakeably refined, elegant style. Craft production of the new Ferretti "bird's eye" blue uniform involves 100% hand tailored bespoke methods, or made to measure techniques using sophisticated machinery. Both employ fabrics that are entirely woven, never sized, with an internal structure composed of five different layers, reflecting the very best Italian tailoring traditions. Individually cut out of high quality fabric selected from the most exclusive Vitale Barberis Canonico materials, the outfits feature sophisticated details typical of the most prestigious made to measure garments, like hand finished collars, lapels, hems, sleeves and pockets. The shirts embody the same design and tailoring skills. Made of the best Italian Canclini blue striped poplin, they feature a wealth of prestigious details - mother of pearl buttons, double hand sewing and a large number of stitches per centimetre. The hems on both sides are finished with a satin insert with the "Alessandro Martorana" logo and a label with the name of the seamstress and the date of production.

Ferretti Yachts website wins E-Content Award Italy 2007

The Ferretti Yachts website was awarded for the "Ebusiness" category at the annual edition of the "E-Content Award 2007", a project organized by the "Fondazione Politecnico di Milano", the European Commission MEDICI Framework with the patronage of the highest Italian institutions (Presidency of the Republic, Presidency of the Prime Minister Cabinet). Ferretti Yachts brought the nautical sector to the excellence of Italian websites that, receiving the Econtent Award, stand out for creativity, innovation and usability. As matter of fact, the www.ferretti-yachts.com website resulted as the best of its segment. A panel of experts assessed the websites that were selected for the contest on the basis of several criteria: global quality and content comprehensiveness, interactivity, design, quality of the process leading to the carrying out of the product, multilingual contents, economic sustainability of the project. The Ferretti Yachts website - produced by Studio Pleiadi agency that holds a long-lasting collaboration with the shipyard for the development of the web platform - was awarded for creating an innovative web experience telling the Ferretti world by uniting products, events, services and information. The website generates a privileged meeting point where it is possible to merge the love for the sea to passion, style and the most sophisticated technology. The website, wholly developed in Macromedia Flash, allows a detailed presentation for each yacht by extracting data and images from a functional database in order to unite browsing ease and contents richness.


InRizzardi Group 2006 Sales Results 

In 2006 sales for the InRizzardi Group, and its four brands: Rizzardi, Posillipo, Italcraft and Diano, was of 78 million Euros with a growing trend of 12% from the biannual of 2004/2005 and 25% from 2005/2006. For 2007 the forecast is for 95 million Euros and for 2008 the challenge is for 110 million Euros. In occasion of the 47th Genoa Boat Show Inrizzardi presented 3 new brands into its portfolio: Santa Yachts for the building of displacement style motor yachts from 25 up to 50 mts in length with construction in alloy and steel and building operations located in La Spezia, Parisi constructor of traditional Gozzo Boats up to 50 feet in length and last but not least the famous Bat inflatable boats. The sales network of the group has also been expanded in the following new markets in the last year with Russia, China and Venezuela adding to the already existent networks of Spain, France, East Europe and USA. The Group is also concluding dealings with other interesting countries with a growing economic trend like Mexico, Argentina and Costa Rica.


Itama Communications Strategy

Itama opens the nautical year with an exciting new communications strategy that has been both developed and restyled. This packed and carefully structured plan includes a series of important innovations for a brand that has always been an international benchmark for Italian style in the open yacht sector. Perfected together with the integrated communications agency AdmCom, this highly organised process of creative exploration and design has led to a number of decisive developments regarding, first and foremost, the Itama coordinated image. This has involved elegantly restyling the visual components, using the classic company colours, but emphasizing the white over the blue. This change continues the company’s insistence on the typically Itama qualities of elegance, sobriety and design purity, combined with a greater emphasis on the character of a product that offers a yachting experience that is direct, airy and highly intense.The leitmotiv in this new advertising campaign focuses on the universe of the senses and is based on the characteristic element of Itama’s history, philosophy and added values, i.e. its status as the perfect open yacht. “The more you feel, the more you live”, this is the claim that encapsulates the importance of the perceptions sought by those in search of an immediate, filter-free relationship with the sea, the waves, the sun and the wind.


Rodman Wins World Yacht Trophies Development Award

Spanish builder Rodman received in Cannes during the World Yacht Trophies 2007 an amazing recognition for the job they did in its new, spectacular range Rodman Muse. The Vigo based shipyard won one of two special awards granted by the Jury, the Development Award to the best project for its Rodman Muse range. The World Yacht Trophies reward the best 136 boats of over 50 feet long and manufactured between 30 July 2006 and 30 July 2007, 40 of which were selected as the best ones of the year after meticulous work of an international Jury. Three awards are granted in each of the twenty existing categories; yachts up to and over 24 metres, Open and Fly, in the fields Best Design, Best Innovation, Best Interior Design, and Funtionality, and Custom Yachts up to and over 40 metres, in the fields Best Design and Innovation. Additionally, the Jury grants two special prizes: one to Business Success and another one to the Best Development Project. In an unprecedented event for the boat industry in Spain, Rodman collected four prestigious awards, being the most special one that granted to the Best Development Project in recognition to the great work carried out on its new Rodman Muse range, which in the opinion of the Jury helped Rodman to introduce the Spanish brand into the highest international level of production of the most exclusive yachts. The jury also valued the successful development of the Rodman Muse range, already materialised in its first two models: Rodman Muse 54, which sold the whole 2007 production at launch in Barcelona, and the recently launched Rodman Muse 74. It also acknowledges the huge impact and image that such a young brand as Rodman Muse is acquiring in a highly competitive international context. Andrés Cárdenas, Rodman’s CEO, received the award from Michel Karsenti, and thanked all the human team in Rodman who, headed by President Manuel Rodríguez and Rodman Muse’s designer, Fulvio De Simoni, has devoted great efforts, full dedication and enthusiasm to this project, which is undoubtedly encouraging Rodman’s international recognition and prestige, helping the company to reach its goal of becoming a world-class brand. Crowning this success, the Rodman Muse 54 was chosen as a finalist in 3 out of the 4 categories in which it was nominated by the Jury: Best Design, Best Innovation and Best Interior Design. The Rodman Muse 54 was the most award-winning boat in this edition of the World Yacht Trophies 2007.

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