The purchase of a private plane or yacht is an expensive endeavour. Even for (U)HNWs, making arrangements to finance such purchases can make economic – and bureaucratic – sense.
A specialist aviation and yacht finance adviser can devise bespoke solutions to enable the smooth execution of these purchases, facilitating services such as loans, mortgages and leasing. They can also advise on other financial matters such as taxes, import duties, operation and management.
The best aviation and yacht finance advisers featured in this year’s index have expertise in a wide range of financial services. Some offer their clients guidance on the most tax-efficient ways to finalise deals. As private jets and yachts are inherently mobile assets, this can include insight on import duties as well as local and international tax laws.
Another central aspect of the knowledge our top advisers share is their deep understanding of registration and legal matters. The choice of where to officially register an asset like a private jet or a boat – such as strategically deciding which flag the yacht is going to carry – can influence legal frameworks, taxes, administrative duties and type of use (private or commercial).
This is why many of the advisers featured in this index have extensive experience in different jurisdictions – to ensure they provide clients with all the information they need to make an informed decision about purchasing such assets. ‘The purchase documentation can be very technical, and the financing is very document-heavy,’ adviser Sarah Dyke tells Spear’s.
The best aviation and yacht finance advisers are essential in helping clients structure their financing in the most efficient way. They will often recommend (U)HNWs to consider ownership via trusts, holding companies or other structures, and will support them with managing transactions, arranging loans, negotiating terms and even conducting credit assessments.
This year, Spear’s index of the top aviation and yacht advisers features experts who have access to the most exclusive assets and the most valuable networks across the sector.
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Methodology
Each year, the Spear’s Research Unit reassesses and refreshes its rankings of the leading providers in each sector by gathering data from and about the advisers and firms themselves, assessing submission forms, collating nominations, carrying out peer reviews, reviewing data from third-party sources, gathering references and recommendations, canvassing experts and conducting hundreds of interviews.
Advisers are evaluated using a proprietary scoring system that assigns different weightings to certain attributes. These scores feed directly into each new set of rankings in the Spear’s Indices. Each of these indices are published first online (according to the research calendar) and then in print. Print publication takes the form of the annual Spear’s 500 directory, which includes the top advisers in every index.
[See also: A guide to The Spear’s 500: Everything you need to know]
Each featured adviser is profiled on spears500.com. The site allows users to search the Spear’s database of more than 4,000 entities to find one (or more) to meet their specific requirements by filtering for specific attributes such as an adviser’s location, their specialist expertise and information about their client base.
The best aviation and yacht finance advisers: some names to know
Sarah Dyke
Focus: Superyacht finance and projects
Position: Partner
Firm: Dentons
Clients come to Dentons partner Sarah Dyke, head of asset trade and export finance at the firm, for specialist business jet financing advice as well as a commercial attitude to getting deals done.
Dyke admits that the process of obtaining an aircraft isn’t simply about picking up the chequebook. ‘The purchase documentation can be very technical, and the financing is very document-heavy, often with a security package covering not only the aircraft but other assets as well,’ she tells Spear’s. ‘There are also other complexities around registering aircraft in the chosen jurisdiction.’
Read Sarah Dyke’s full profile on Spears500.com
Mark Bisset
Focus: Aircraft loan and lease financing
Position: Partner and head of aviation finance
Firm: Clyde & Co
Mark Bisset, global head of aviation finance at Clyde & Co, acts for everyone from banks and financiers to UHNW owners and operators on a wide variety of aircraft-related transactions.
Recognised as one of the leading aviation finance practitioners, Bisset has a great deal of experience in finding the optimal leasing and purchase financing solutions for his clients, drawing on in-depth knowledge of aviation regulations. He tells Spear’s he enjoys working in his chosen field: ‘It is fascinating to have access to the top levels of commerce. A company’s business jet is a high-value and high-profile piece of equipment – with a very direct and personal emotional investment in it by the owner.’
Read Mark Bisset’s full profile on Spears500.com
Marco Kern
Focus: Luxury mobility and assets
Position: Founder
Firm: Sesalpena
Marco Kern is the founder of Zurich-based private office Sesalpena, which describes itself as a ‘strategic specialist for luxury mobility and assets, financing solutions, entrepreneurs’ needs and private management’.
Formerly head of Credit Suisse’s aviation and yacht finance business, Kern is now committed to keeping his boutique firm ‘small, flexible, efficient and client-focused,’ he tells Spear’s.
Read Marco Kern’s full profile on Spears500.com
The best aviation and yacht finance advisers: the complete list
To apply for inclusion in The Spear’s 500, complete our submission form.
For further information about rankings, please email research@spearswms.com; we aim to respond to all queries within two working days.
For commercial enquiries and questions relating to enhanced profiles, please contact Commercial Director Shady Elkholy: shady.elkholy@spearswms.com
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