When Chinese industrial conglomerate Weichai Group snapped up cash-strapped Italian luxury yacht builder Ferretti in 2012, the deal looked like a match made in heaven.
Debt-laden Ferretti, known for the elegant Riva speedboats favoured by film star Sophia Loren, was the world's top maker of large motor yachts and cash-rich Weichai saw an opportunity to offer luxury leisure to the growing ranks of Chinese billionaires.
Three years on, wealthy Chinese are yet to fully embrace the appeal of messing about in boats and Ferretti, which has since slipped to No.3 among global superyacht builders according to an annual order book survey by industry publisher Boat International, is still loss-making.