Revolut Founder Denies €17.5M Broker Claim
Over Reported €350M Superyacht Nixie Deal
Nik Storonsky disputes Cecil Wright & Partners’ claim that the brokerage was the effective cause of his reported acquisition of the 102-meter Lürssen superyacht.
A dispute over one of the world’s largest reported superyacht transactions has moved into a new phase, with Revolut founder Nik Storonsky denying that he owes €17.5 million to Cecil Wright & Partners following his reported acquisition of the 102-meter superyacht Nixie.
The brokerage’s High Court claim alleges that it was the “effective cause” of the reported €350 million transaction and is entitled to a 5% commission. Storonsky disputes that account and, according to reporting on his filed defense, denies owing the brokerage any money.
The reported €350 million Nixie transaction
Nixie is a 102.4-meter superyacht built by German shipyard Lürssen and previously known during construction as Project JassJ. The vessel was delivered in June 2026. Published descriptions cite amenities including a beach club and gym, cryotherapy and spa facilities, and a glass-bottomed swimming pool.
Court-related reports say Storonsky’s family office approached Cecil Wright & Partners in 2024 regarding plans for a new yacht, then asked in July 2025 about acquiring an existing vessel while that project progressed. The brokerage says it identified Nixie while the yacht was still under construction.
Cecil Wright says it was the effective cause
According to reports describing the claim, Storonsky inspected the yacht and representatives made an offer of approximately €300 million. That proposal did not result in a sale at the time.
The vessel’s ownership circumstances later changed. Canadian businessman Patrick Dovigi, who had originally commissioned the yacht, reportedly reacquired it after an earlier sale during construction. Storonsky later purchased the vessel directly from Dovigi in a transaction reported at approximately €350 million.
Cecil Wright & Partners alleges that its earlier work remained the effective cause of the ultimate acquisition and therefore generated an entitlement to the claimed 5% commission.
| Reported point | Brokerage position | Defense position |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to the yacht | Its work led Storonsky to Nixie | The later purchase was independently established |
| Earlier negotiations | Part of the chain leading to the sale | Those negotiations had broken down |
| Commission | 5% of the reported €350 million value | No commission is owed |
Storonsky challenges the link to the final sale
Reporting published on September 15 and 16 says Storonsky’s defense disputes the brokerage’s description of how the transaction came together. His position, as reported, is that broker-involved negotiations ended after complications concerning the yacht’s prior ownership and that the later agreement with Dovigi arose independently.
The Times also reported an unusual detail from the defense: Storonsky says he conducted his own research into the yacht’s ownership and used ChatGPT as part of that research before identifying Dovigi and arranging the transaction directly. That assertion forms part of the reported defense narrative; it is not a judicial finding about how the sale was caused.
A €17.5 million commission question
At the reported €350 million transaction value, a 5% commission equals €17.5 million. The size of the claim places unusual attention on the engagement terms, introductions and chain of negotiations behind high-value yacht transactions.
The case may ultimately turn on the governing agreements and the evidence connecting the brokerage’s work to the completed sale. For owners, family offices and advisers, it is also a reminder to document broker appointments, commission triggers, post-termination rights, introductions and direct negotiations before a transaction advances.
- Define the engagement. State whether the broker is exclusive and which vessels or counterparties are covered.
- Specify the commission trigger. Clarify whether payment depends on introduction, effective cause, exchange, closing or another event.
- Address later transactions. Document tail periods and rights after negotiations pause or an engagement ends.
- Preserve the record. Retain introductions, offers, communications and changes in ownership or representation.
Sources and attribution
This brief is based on reporting attributed to The Times, Sifted, SuperYacht Times and court-related coverage published in August and September 2026. Statements about the parties’ positions are allegations or defenses unless and until determined by the court.