We are boat builders, not money men
Dick Mulder is the managing director of Shipyard Mulder in Holland, which builds premium quality motoryachts in the medium-size range. Now celebrating its 70th year, the yard is renowned for its superior design, construction and finish. With owners from all around the world making a beeline to his yard, Dick Mulder is appreciative of Ciris Capital's support and advice concerning financial matters.
I have known managing director Remco Immink since 1997 when he worked at debis, and followed the setting up of Ciris Capital with interest. Since then I've been hugely impressed by the way the company has developed in the market. It is exceptionally fast in answering questions, which is crucial in a business like ours. All too often we have had to wait two months to hear back from a bank or other financial institution. These delays can be fatal for projects that are at a very sensitive negotiating phase, and can lead to the client changing his mind about building a yacht altogether.
It was therefore a great pleasure to find a company that responds so swiftly. Moreover, the guys at Ciris Capital have an intricate understanding not only of the finance sector but also of how the yachting market operates and how owners think. Mulder Shipyard only has a moderate profit margin on our yachts and it is therefore vital that all financial matters regarding payment are clear. Having Ciris Capital involved adds security in this respect.
The majority of Mulder owners have traditionally paid for their yacht out of their own means but we see an increasing trend to ask for advice on finance. This is not surprising as more people are looking to retain the best position possible when it comes to liquidity and accessible assets. Several Mulder owners have recently taken advantage of Ciris Capital's services in this way. And while others may not eventually take out a loan, it is of considerable value that we can offer our clients an authoritative overview of the options at their disposal.
I also enjoy being able to refer Mulder clients to Remco and Hans in order to explore the possibilities in relation to leasing and VAT structures. As a yard we do not want to become overly involved in such matters. I prefer to stay focused on what we do best - building the finest boat that money can buy in this size bracket - and leave other experts to deal with where that money comes from and how the boat will be registered.
