Ian Mace

Global head of maritime, trade and offshore finance

Ian has been active in the yachting sector for almost 20 years. Ian has acted for owners in respect of newbuilding contracts for motor yachts and sailing yachts, and acquisitions and sales in respect of yachts and shares in yacht owning companies. Ian has represented owners at all stages of the yacht ownership cycle as well in respect of repeat acquisitions for a number of owners.

As the global head of the Stephenson Harwood maritime finance team, Ian has acted for borrowers, most of the major banks involved in the market and for other sources of capital investing in the yachting sector, advising on all types of financing structures from facilities that are utilised for acquisitions of second hand yachts or to refinancing equity, through to construction financing involving either refund guarantees or construction mortgages, and ECA backed financing of some of the largest yachts constructed.

Ian’s extensive experience also includes a number of the limited restructurings, arrests and enforcements in the yacht finance sector.

Acting for the owner regarding the construction contract in respect of a 40m sailing yacht and subsequent sale of company that owned the yacht.
Acting for the owner regarding the construction contract in respect of a 50m yacht and the trade-in of any existing yacht.
Acting for the owner in respect of the acquisition, refit and subsequent sale of a 48m yacht and the related financing.
Acting for the owner regarding the construction contract and pre delivery Finnish mortgage security relating to a Baltic Yachts sailing yacht and the related pre and post delivery financing.
Acting for the owner regarding the construction contract and refund guarantees relating to a 55m Benetti yacht and the related pre and post delivery financing.
Acting for European and US based financial institutions in respect of the EURO 100 million syndicated loan financing of the delivery instalment under a construction contract for a +100m yacht with a contract price in excess of EURO 200 million.
Acting for a European bank in respect of the EURO 175m refinancing in respect of a +100m yacht.
Acting for a European bank in respect of the EURO 50m refinancing in respect of a +80 yacht.
Acting for a European bank in respect of the pre and post delivery financing of a yacht under construction in Italy, including the provision of Italian construction mortgages.