Burgess, which traces its roots back 50 years, has an outside investor for the first time. The private-equity firm Ancient has acquired a stake in it.
Based in New York, Ancient dates to 2021 under founder Alexander Klabin, who currently serves as its chairman and CEO. According to its website, Ancient “is purpose built to invest in change.” It provides long-term capital for specialty finance firms as well as niche service-oriented companies. It also lends operational assistance to these firms to accelerate growth. Notably, Ancient’s holdings are in ultra-high-net-worth consumer sectors. For instance, it has a stake in the famed auction house Sotheby’s. It has a holding in the private-aircraft management company Solairus, too.
According to Loren Easton, Ancient’s head of private investing, Burgess is a complementary fit. Its superyacht reach, yet also its connection to travel and wellness trends, made it attractive. “Burgess’ enduring legacy, global reach, and commitment to service align perfectly with Ancient’s mission to invest in category-defining platforms build for the long term,” he says.
“Partnering with Ancient gives Burgess the resources, scale, and creativity we want to accelerate our leadership position in the industry, without compromising our independence or our culture,” says Jonathan Beckett, Burgess’ CEO (above). Beckett has been in his position since 1992. Nigel Burgess, a passionate ocean racer, established the eponymous firm in 1975 to sell yachts. Subsequently, the company added divisions for charter, new construction, yacht management, crew services, and insurance. Today, it has 18 offices around the world. Although headquarters are in London, its U.S. offices are in Aspen, Miami, Beverly Hills, and New York. In fact, Beckett moved from London to Miami two years ago. Further locations are in Monaco, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, India, and Australia.
The terms of the investment remain undisclosed. However, Burgess’ senior leadership team is remaining in place.
Ancient ancient.co
Burgess Yachts burgessyachts.com