Aston Lark adds to marine portfolio with superyacht broker buy

Aston Lark has snapped up another nautical asset - this time buying superyacht broker CRS Yachts.

In November, Aston Lark bought MS Amlin’s pleasure craft business Haven. 

Days after that announcement Aston Lark revealed it was buying Alliance Limited, a schemes broker, and Risk Alliance International Limited, a Belfast-based haulage and logistics business intermediary.

CRS Yachts is a London market broker and has been around for nearly 20 years. According to Aston Lark CRS has advised on the insurance of several of “the largest and most famous yachts in the world”.

The existing CRS Yachts brand will continue, yet ”will play an active and significant role in the growth strategy of Aston Lark Europe”, the company said. 

Aston Lark chief executive Peter Blanc said: ”With Euromarine, Haven Knox-Johnston [the ex-Amlin business] and now CRS Yachts we’re becoming quite the nautical experts.

”CRS Yachts specialises in the high-end world of superyachts and they place cover for some of the most beautiful craft on the planet.

”It’s an extremely specialised class of business which is facing its own hard market challenges. Simon [Ballard, CRS Yachts’ MD] and the team haven’t missed a beat through Covid and we’re looking forward to an exciting and challenging 2021 together.”

Meanwhile Ballard commented that ”together we will be able to service our current and future clients to the highest level”.

”We are all very much looking forward to the future, continuing to grow and offering the superior service levels our many clients have come to expect from us.”