Fairline secures extra finance to fuel increased boat production

DF Capital has doubled its facilities, enabling British yacht manufacturer Fairline to finance the building of more boats throughout 2021 and beyond. 

Funding facilities have increased more than two-fold over the last 18 months with DF Capital’s help, in-line with increased global demand for Fairline’s boats, with twice as many vessels being produced this year than in 2020.

With the global yachting market experiencing unprecedented demand, Fairline required an extension of its facilities to assist with continued production expansion as well as providing a floorplan facility for its dealers.

DF Capital initially created a funding solution supporting Fairline Yachts’ UK dealer network. This enabled dealers to order and fund units off production prior to end-consumer handover, safeguarding margin negotiations to cover early payment requirements. The solution expanded to fund the manufacturer for completed boats, enabling it to draw down as soon as boats were ready for delivery, releasing working capital.

This facility has now been extended further in 2021 to include working capital financing to fund the final stages of fit-out. This gives additional flexibility to Fairline, enabling dealers to confidently order units to secure further production, and provides certainty and efficiency of liquidity for the Fairline factory.

In July 2021, MIN reported that Fairline is recruiting for new manufacturing and design roles at its factory in Oundle, Northamptonshire.These vacancies come as Fairline commences a three-year new model launch programme.

Fairline Yachts has worked with DF Capital since 2017. Alongside the increased production, the British yacht manufacturer has also been able to invest in the production of new models.

Peter McNulty, chief executive officer at Fairline Yachts says: “It’s a pleasure to work with DF Capital. The team understands our brand, our products, our business plan and how the market works. DF Capital is more than simply a lender – whenever we need support, Andy and his team step up and create a practical and flexible solution to meet our specific requirements.  It’s nice to partner with a company that not only has a great relationship with us, as the manufacturer, but also with our dealers, leveraging their expertise across the sector.”

Andy Stafferton, chief commercial officer, DF Capital, says: “We’ve worked in conjunction with Fairline Yachts since we founded DF Capital, and my history with the brand dates back nearly 20 years. In fact, it was our first manufacturer partner so the team there knows as much about our business as we do about theirs. When we were first approached by Fairline to consider the funding solutions required, we knew this was a company that had an exciting future.  It’s certainly a brand to watch over the next few years and we look forward to helping it expand and further meet the needs of its customers over the next decade.”