Cannes to showcase excellence of Ferretti World

Ferretti S.p.A., parent company of Ferretti group, a world leader within the sphere of designing, building and marketing luxury motoryachts, which encompasses nine of the most exclusive and prestigious brands in the nautical world (Ferretti Yachts, Pershing, Itama, Bertram, Riva, Apreamare, Mochi Craft, CRN and Custom Line), opens the first and most anticipated event of the 2008-2009 nautical season in Cannes by presenting an incredible 43 yachts, of which 11 are world previews and 1 is a European preview.

This milestone comes at the end of a particularly important nautical year for the company, which recently celebrated 40 years since its foundation, having achieved many aims over the years and developed innovations which have upheld it as one of the leading companies in its sector time and time again.

Technological innovation has taken precedent during the course of the 2007-2008 nautical year. Two important technological innovations developed by AYT (Advanced Yacht Technology), Ferretti Group’s naval research and design centre, were presented as world previews, further establishing AYT’s commitment and dedication to the importance of environmental issues. As a result of the significance that AYT has placed on these issues, major developments have been made including a hybrid propulsion system, which, for the very first time, allows for yachts measuring over 20 metres to cruise in 'Zero Emission Mode'. Also, the highly innovative 'transplaning' Fer.Wey hull, which makes it possible for a yacht to cruise in total comfort and energy efficiency at an average range of speed. Moreover, Ferretti group renewed its agreement with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the installation of the ARG (Anti Rolling Gyro) on brand yachts, granting a world exclusive to Ferretti until 2011. This anti-rolling gyro system allows for a reduction of over 50% in the rolling motion caused by wave movement.

Commercially, both the already consolidated European market and other emerging markets have continued to grow, such as those of Eastern Europe, the Far East (particularly India and China) and the Middle East, one of the company’s strategic priorities. Thanks to growing investments in marinas and infrastructures, the nautical sector in these areas, particularly in the Middle East, is experiencing an incremental growth. This is proven by the fact that Ferretti Group has also strengthened its network of dealers, both in terms of quantity and the quality of service that is being offered. To this regard, the totally innovative agreement announced by ACI Real Estate, an affiliate of Alternative Capital Investments of Germany, and Ferretti Group, for the branding of luxury waterfront residences 'Ferretti Luxury Beach Residence' and 'Pershing Luxury Beach Residence' in Dubai is particularly important and strategic for the market development in this area.

The American market has always been a highly strategic area for the company, and a particularly important movement took place in August 2008, when Ferretti acquired the assets, brands and activities of Allied Richard Bertram Marine Group. This American company specializes in After Sales service and marketing of both new and pre-owned motor yachts, as well as brokerage services. This new acquisition has further strengthened Ferretti group’s position in the American market, enabling it to strategically infiltrate important sectors with a high added value, such as distribution and After Sales assistance services.

Ferretti has invested heavily in consolidating and developing its production units, particularly the three nautical poles, which are currently feathers in the Italian shipbuilding industry’s cap. The successful nautical pole of Ancona, where CRN and Custom Line craft up to 85 meters are built, was further strengthened. Construction was almost entirely completed on the poles of La Spezia, the reference point for all group that provides technical, logistical and commercial support in the basin of the Ligurian Sea and High Tyrrhenian and the production area for Riva yachts measuring over 68’, and of Torre Annunziata, the modern pole for the sports craft, which faces the Mediterranean and offers assistance services to all group brands. Moreover, in order to further enhance the many synergies which already exist between the Apreamare and Itama brands, the progressive transfer of Itama activities to the Torre Annunziata facilities has also begun. Finally, Ferretti inaugurated a new shipyard in Fano. The new shipyard is completely dedicated to the construction of Custom Line yachts, and fully meets the criteria of the most advanced international boatyards for maxi yachts in composite material.

Other ambitious projects have also been developed concerning services for the boating industry. A few months ago, Ferretti, always attentive to its clients’ requirements, established a Service Division whose aim is to develop and coordinate a range of activities that the company considers strategic in assisting clients and increasing their loyalty to Ferretti brands over the next years. Among these After Sales technical services, insurance, leasing, yacht mooring space management and brokerage services will certainly play an important role. Ferretti will also continue its training courses and provide opportunities for captains to meet and discuss the management of luxury motoryachts, proving the significance Ferretti has always placed on its owners, dealers and captains.

The 2008-2009 nautical year begins with the presentation of 12 brand new yachts as previews at the Cannes boat show, displayed on a prestigious stand measuring 1,230 m². The brand new models on show are Ferretti Altura 840, Pershing 80', Pershing 64', Itama SeventyFive, Bertram 410 (a European preview), Riva 92’ Duchessa, Riva 68’ Ego Super, Apreamare Maestro 82’, Apreamare 64’ Fly, Mochi Craft 54’ Fly, Custom Line Navetta 33 and Custom Line 112’ NEXT.

'It makes me immensely proud to open the new nautical year with our dealers, strategic suppliers, many partners and the press, and share Ferretti group’s successes with them,' remarked Vincenzo Cannatelli, Ferretti SpA CEO during the traditional Ferretti Meeting opening the boat show, 'especially due to the common desire to achieve many more goals in the future. The combination of international growth, the excellence of the technological research and increasingly more attention placed on clients and services are key factors for the growth and development plan that the company has undertaken to date and intends to pursue in the future.'

'This year, which has just come to a close, gave us immense satisfaction. Our 40 years of success are the fruits of the professionalism, skill, enthusiasm and passion of the hard work of the group’s men and women, who have worked as a close-knit team and who were always prepared and eager to seize new challenges,' Norberto Ferretti, Ferretti SpA Chairman proudly declared. 'It is always exciting to open the Cannes boat show with such an in impressive number of world previews and such high quality yachts; the result of all the commitment we have put into researching new design solutions.'