Schulte Group Acquires Majority Stake in YPI CREW

The Schulte Group, through its Singaporean affiliate, Schulte Maritime Services PTE Ltd, has announced the acquisition of a majority stake in YPI CREW, the leading yacht crew recruitment agency based in Antibes.

YPI CREW will be positioned under Bernhard Schulte Cruise Services (BSCS), the division created by the Schulte Group to provide technical management and crewing services to the global cruise industry. Established in January 2018, BSCS already has three cruise ships under management with additional vessels coming on board in 2019.

In this transaction, leading shipbrokers, BRS Yachting, part of the BRS Group, is selling its entire stake in YPI CREW. Laurence Lewis, Managing Director, Co-founder and shareholder of YPI CREW will continue to run the day to day business.

"We are delighted to welcome Laurence and her team at YPI CREW to the Schulte Group, in particular to Bernhard Schulte Cruise Services. We see great synergies that can be developed as our cruise division, under the leadership of cruise veteran Les Royle (below), increases its position in cruise management and the luxury expedition cruise sector in particular." said Martin Springer, Deputy MD, Bernhard Schulte Cruise Services.

"This acquisition is part of our strategy of external growth and we are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead now that we have one of the foremost names in the luxury yacht recruitment sector as part of the Schulte family.” 

YPI CREW was founded 15 years ago and has become a leading yacht crew placement agency. Based in Antibes in the south of France, the company sources and recruits the best crew worldwide, from deckhands to captains, engineers, chefs, and interior crew. 

“I am very happy to join the Schulte Group and, in particular, to be working with the management of Bernhard Schulte Cruise Services. Our clients will benefit from the complementary skills and technologies of two leaders in their market segments." said Laurence. "We will thus improve our strategy of securing and developing international exchanges. The integration of our talents and our expertise will therefore take place very quickly. We have identified many valuable synergies.“

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

Bernhard Schulte Cruise Services was founded in 2017 to expand the Schulte Group’s service offerings to the cruise industry. BSCS is part of Bernhard Schulte Ship Management which has over 130 years of experience in the shipping industry. With its HQ in Hamburg, Germany, the Schulte Group has offices in over 30 locations around the world, focusing on ship ownership and ship management. The group owns 90 vessels and manages over 640 ships through the employment of 18,000 seafarers and 2,000 shore-based employees.