Superyacht Services Set for Change as Ancient Makes Significant Investment in Burgess

In a significant development in the superyacht services sector, private equity investor Ancient has stepped into the game with a financial infusion into industry leader, Burgess. This move showcases investor interest in the largest full-service brokerage groups within the industry, and marks a potential upward trend towards a more corporation-led sector.

Founded by Alexander Klabin, Ancient’s investment in Burgess, whose scope of work spans brokerage, charter, build, management, crew services, and insurance, is designed to solidify Burgess’s expansion into responding to ever-evolving client needs. Demand in the superyacht industry has seen significant alterations, with trends in remote cruising, wellness and around-the-clock yacht usage skyrocketing, thereby increasing the need for integrated advisory and operational capabilities.

The substantial partnership between Ancient and Burgess has been forged in alignment with Ancient’s ‘masterpieces, not many pieces’ investment style. This ethos sees Ancient target a select few platforms that, like Burgess, offer high-quality, comprehensive service and significant potential for long-term returns.

The transaction sparks questions about the future of the superyacht brokerages and the industry’s shift towards partnerships with large capital providers. Observers are speculating if firms that have traditionally been under the helm of their founding leaders are now growing beyond their roots and inviting institutional ownership. This, in turn, raises questions about the future of smaller traders and new market entrants.

While capital providers taking stakes in brokerages aren’t a new phenomenon, Ancient’s move into Burgess marks a substantial shift in industry dynamics and offers insights into how the sector might adapt and change in the coming years.