Seatrade Cruise News is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Schulte Group takes majority stake in YPI Crew

0051825c342515364a6827ad9e9dcbf8
Les Royle, left, leads the growing cruise division BSCS, while Laurence Lewis will continue to run the day-to-day business of YPI Crew as managing director and co-shareholder. Synergies between the groups have been identified
The Schulte Group, through its Singaporean affiliate Schulte Maritime Services, acquired a majority stake in YPI Crew, the Antibes-based yacht crew recruitment agency.

Under Bernhard Schulte Cruise Services

YPI Crew will be positioned under Bernhard Schulte Cruise Services (BSCS), the division formed by the Schulte Group to offer technical management and crewing services to the cruise industry.

Established in January 2018, BSCS has three cruise ships under management, with additional tonnage being added in 2019.

In this transaction, BRS Yachting, the yachting head company of BRS Group, a shipbroking company with offices in 20 countries, is selling its entire stake in YPI Crew. Laurence Lewis, managing director and co-founder of YPI Crew, will continue to run the day-to-day business of YPI Crew as managing director and co-shareholder.

Synergies with cruise division

'We are delighted to welcome Laurence and her team at YPI Crew to the Schulte Group, in particular to Bernhard Schulte Cruise Services,' said Martin Springer, deputy managing director, BSCS. 'We see great synergies that can be developed as our cruise division, under the leadership of cruise veteran Les Royle, increases its position in cruise management and the luxury expedition cruise sector in particular.'

Lewis said YPI Crew's clients will benefit from the 'complementary skills and technologies of two leaders in their market segments. We will thus improve our strategy of securing and developing international exchanges,' she said. 'The integration of our talents and our expertise will therefore take place very quickly. We have identified many valuable synergies.'

'We are very happy to have carried out this transaction with the Schulte Group,' said Francois Cadiou, CEO, BRS Group, 'and we are confident that YPI Crew will grow and reach new heights under its patronage along with the expertise of Laurence Lewis.'