Ferretti is focusing on its Tisg assets and stepping up its presence in Asian markets

‘There is no such thing as a difficult customer or a difficult macroeconomic climate: there is only a bad salesperson or a good salesperson.’ Stassi Anastassov, CEO of the Ferretti Group, responds in this way – with a quip – to those who ask him how he sees the future of the yacht market, particularly in light of the international crises that are reshaping global geopolitics. He then adds: “There is enough business for the best to prevail and continue to grow and gain market share.” And he makes no secret of the fact that Ferretti intends to be the best and is aiming to secure around 60 per cent or more of orders for the current yachting year, with boat shows taking place between September and November. All this despite the fact that the company’s half-year results for 2026 showed an overall decline, with order intake down 26.9 per cent, and the company has revised its 2026 guidance on a conservative basis.

It is not, however, just market shares but also M&A that are of interest to the manager, given that he confirms what has emerged in recent months: “We are assessing the opportunity presented by a possible acquisition of The Italian Sea Group very carefully,” he says. As for the submission of the expression of interest, Anastassov does not reveal everything: “I cannot say what we have or have not submitted. But I don’t think it’s a secret – and I have no problem saying so – that we are taking the opportunity presented by TISG very seriously.”

The CEO does not reveal whether the interest is focused exclusively on the Tisg shipyard in La Spezia or on the entire asset: ‘Those are matters on which I cannot go into detail. But we are clearly and seriously interested in evaluating any asset that could help us achieve certain objectives: creating capacity for the future; building ever-better vessels; ensuring a higher profit margin for our shareholders in the long term; and accelerating the delivery of high-quality vessels to our customers.”

As for the market, the CEO points out that ‘the most important season for boats’ has only just begun, ‘which typically peaks in September, starting with the private preview (organised in recent days in Monte Carlo for clients, ed.), followed by the Cannes Yachting Festival (which has just begun, ed.), then the Monaco Boat Show and, finally, the Genoa Boat Show. At the Cannes event, which opened yesterday, Ferretti is presenting, for the Riva brand, the world premiere of the new Riva 56’ Rivale Super (17.27 metres) and Riva 96’ Argo Super (28.79 metres); for the Costum Line brand, it is exhibiting the new Navetta 35 (34.5 metres); and for Itama, the 70 (20.93 metres) as well as the design for the future Itama 80. Alongside these world premieres is the new version of the Ferretti 720 (22.5 metres).

Anastassov also notes that on 3 November, after attending the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, he will be travelling to Hong Kong to take part in an event at which he will present the company, “organised,” he explains, “by our agents and brokers, many of whom work for independent firms. International brokers operating in Asia will also be present. There will be people from Thailand, Indonesia and so on.”