Central Agency Agreements: What Sellers Actually Sign
The clauses that matter, the commission structures worth negotiating, and the exit rights every owner should insist on.
A Central Agency Agreement (CAA) grants a single broker the exclusive right to market your yacht for a defined term — typically six to twelve months. In exchange, you receive concentrated marketing spend, MLS distribution, and a single accountable point of contact.
Standard commission is 10% of the gross sale price, split between listing and selling brokers where a co-broker is involved. On vessels above €10M, a tiered structure — 10% up to a threshold, 5% above — aligns incentives sharply and is increasingly common.
Non-negotiables for the seller: a break clause after 90 days of measurable underperformance, a clear marketing plan with committed spend, monthly written reporting, and a tail-period definition that protects the broker without indefinitely encumbering your title.