PRESS RELEASE
Johann Hesse and Rufus Gobat today issued the following statement to clarify public commentary regarding the brokerage arrangements connected to the sale of the motor yacht ALFA NERO.
A United Kingdom- registered company, Caribbean Lifestyle Services Ltd, entered into a formal Agreement (Introducer Introductory Fee Agreement) with Northrop & Johnson Monaco SAM in June 2024. This agreement followed discussions with industry professionals after an earlier auction process involving a separate prospective purchaser proved unsuccessful.
Under the terms of the contract, any introducer compensation was expressly structured to be paid solely from the broker’s earned commission and only in the event of a completed qualifying sale to a buyer handled by the brokerage. No compensation was payable outside of these conditions.
All sums arising under this arrangement were duly declared in the United Kingdom in accordance with applicable legal, compliance and tax obligations. Caribbean Lifestyle Services Ltd maintains that transparency, proper documentation, and compliance with UK taxation and regulatory requirements are fundamental to its operations.
Neither Mr. Hesse, Mr. Gobat, nor Caribbean Lifestyle Services Ltd remitted, directly or indirectly, any portion of introducer compensation to any public official or to any relative of a public official.
Mr. Hesse and Mr. Gobat remain committed to ensuring that the factual record reflects the straightforward commercial nature of the agreement: a standard industry introducer structure, contingent upon a successful transaction, payable from brokerage commissions, and handled within established tax, compliance and regulatory frameworks.
It is also important to clarify that the figures referenced publicly do not represent any additional commission or hidden compensation. They form part of a negotiated allocation contained entirely within the broker’s previously disclosed commission structure. No separate or supplemental payment existed beyond what was transparently provided for under the brokerage arrangement.