Statement from Aston Lark
We are pleased to announce today that Aston Lark is to be acquired by Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division. Completion of the transaction is expected to occur following receipt of approvals from the Financial Conduct Authority and the Central Bank of Ireland, and antitrust approval.
Our Group CEO, Peter Blanc said: “We’re delighted to be able to announce that we’ve now exchanged contracts with Goldman Sachs. When this deal completes it will secure our independence for the foreseeable future to enable us to continue acquiring like-minded brokers and employee benefits advisors to create the UK’s most trusted Chartered Insurance Broker.
“We’re extremely proud of the business that we’ve built, and all of our management team are very excited about what the future holds. Our ambitions for the business can now be realised over the coming months and years and I’ll be talking to brokers that want to share in this journey.
“I’d also like to express my thanks to Bowmark Capital who have been a wonderfully supportive investor over the last four years.”
Julian Masters, Bowmark partner, said: “We have greatly enjoyed working with Peter and his team to deliver on the company’s growth ambitions. Thanks to its continuous focus on innovation and excellence, and its ability to identify, acquire and successfully integrate complementary businesses, we believe Aston Lark is well-positioned to continue its strong track record of growth.”
Michele Titi-Cappelli, Head of Financial Services investing at Goldman Sachs’ Merchant Banking Division, said: “We have been impressed by what Peter Blanc and the Aston Lark team have achieved, and we are excited to be supporting the company’s growth ambitions both organically and via acquisitions."
There will be no change in our senior management team and our focus will be to continue to grow the business and look after our clients and protecting their interests.