LEASING BOATS
ARE BECOMING BIGGER
A new leasing law has at last been approved in Italy. The
law, known as "Italian leasing" allows a reduction in VAT
on bigger boats that have been bought through financial
leasing. Currently the longer a boat is outside of EU
waters the greater the VAT reduction is. This figure is
calculated on engine size regarding motorboats and sail
surface area in sail boats and just to remind you is
about 20%. We asked Mr.Kobau how his company and the
market generally has faired under this law since its
implementation two years ago.
Considering that those who benefit the most from this law
have been boat owners, have you noticed any growth in
superyacht sales? Is it true that this market sector is
still growing?
Boat owners are now buying bigger boats. It is now more
attractive financially to buy bigger boats, moreover the
chance of "buying" a boat through financial leasing is a
more feasible option as large sums of money are not
necessary or do not have to be moved from other
investments when leasing. This makes it easier for
Italian and foreign boat owners.
A lot of recently built superyachts have been purchased
by companies that use them as charter boats. In these
cases, is there anything different in the way financial
leasing works? Do you have a financial package
specifically created for bigger charter boats?
Financial leasing has always been a financial instrument
dedicated both to private buyers and charter companies
alike. Companies are particularly interested in our
financial package as it's flexible and it can be tailored
to clients specific needs. This is why there are more and
more companies that think that Italian leasing is a good
financial tool. Moreover, new provisions within the law
will allow you to register the boat as a commercial craft
making Italian leasing even more appealing in the future.
Are all your clients Italian or, thanks to this new Law,
have you noticed that foreign clients are also interested
in your financial packages?
As I have said, Italian leasing is up and working within
the European market, becoming a valid alternative to
other financial packages already available in the boat
market. We have a lot of contact with clients from many
Countries, especially Greece, Spain, France and the UK.
Often extra services make the difference between
competitors. What does SelmaBipiemme do or offer that the
current competition in the financial sector does not?
Nowadays we are able to include financial leasing to all
services connected with boats (insurance, administrative
services for purchase and registration, maintenance costs
- agreed with the manufacturer..) but what the client
really wants is careful and personal attention in
understanding and finding the best option (financial or
not) when purchasing a boat. This is the sector in which
all financial companies are competing in. We have to be
able to manage each client with high degree of
professionalism and exclusivity during the contract, in
particular when the client decides to change their boat
or to sell it before the expiry date of the original contract.
The boating industry has undeniably grown in the last few
years even though the real boom hasn't yet materialized.
In your opinion what's been the missing ingredient? Has
it been a of lack of mooring places?
Ports and mooring places are surely problems to discuss
and try and solve.
With reference to this problem we are aware that Italian
and foreign boat owners are very careful when analyze the
behaviors of the legislator and of the Public
Administration. Italian boat owners are looking for
tranquility and reliability, they don't want to be
constantly regulated or checked up on, they want to have
trouble free fun within a legal framework that the new
Law is trying to promote.
We hope that this process proceeds quickly and that our
8000 kilometers of coastline will be more appreciated by
Italian and other boat owners.
For further information: SELMABIPIEMME LEASING SPA, Via
Battistotti Sassi 11/A, 20133 Milano Tel. +39 (0)2
74822313 - Fax +39 (0)2 74822822 E-mail: nautica@selmabipiemme.it
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