Aston Lark buys £10m MS Amlin marine pleasure craft book

UK insurance broker Aston Lark has acquired MS Amlin's £10 million GWP marine pleasure craft book of business, with plans to relaunch it as Haven Knox-Johnston early next year.

Following the sale and rebranding, which is expected to complete in January 2021, MS Amlin will continue to operate in an underwriting capacity.

In September 2019, MS Amlin announced that nine classes of business and operations no longer formed part of its future strategic direction, including UK Yacht (previously Haven).

Haven was formed as a boat insurance provider in 1986 and merged with Knox-Johnston Insurance Brokers in 1992 to become Haven Knox-Johnston, part of the Amlin Group. A further merger in 2016 saw the business renamed MS Amlin.

Peter Blanc, chief executive of Aston Lark Group, said: “I’m delighted that Aston Lark will be reviving the historic Haven Knox-Johnston brand and I’m looking forward to developing the business significantly over the coming months, including the launch of an online broker portal, whilst ensuring a continuation of the high level of service brokers and customers have come to expect. I’m pleased that MS Amlin have demonstrated their confidence in the business by agreeing to a long-term underwriting commitment.”

Tom Oostra, MS Amlin Insurance SE’s chief underwriting officer for marine, commented: “I believe that the transition to Aston Lark provides significant potential to invest in and further improve what is already a great proposition for clients. I’m delighted that we will continue to provide underwriting capacity, and to be working with the team at Aston Lark.”

Paul Knox-Johnston, business development manager, said: “We are excited to be part of the Aston Lark group and look forward to working together with shared ambitions to bring about a new chapter in boat insurance.”

Founding family member Sir Robin Knox-Johnston added: “I am so pleased that Haven Knox-Johnston, the brand my brother Chris and I helped to build over so many years, is coming back. The original business was built on pillars of knowledge, fairness and integrity and I am confident this will continue under the new ownership of Aston Lark.”