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A French player on the offensive in the UK
According to information published by Sky News paris-based Antin Infrastructure Partners has entered into negotiations to acquire Aquavista, one of the UK's leading marina operators. The company manages over 5,000 berths across 30 sites, making it a key player in the UK marina sector.
Aquavista: rapid consolidation since 2018
Aquavista was acquired in 2018 by LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds banking group. Since then, the operator has pursued a policy of sustained external growth, including the acquisition of Castle Marinas - owner of the Crick Boat Show - and Birdham Pool Marina, located in the port of Chichester. These acquisitions have strengthened its national position and diversified its portfolio of assets.
Valuation in excess of £150 million
Current discussions would value Aquavista at well over £150 million. If the deal goes through, Antin Infrastructure Partners would make a significant entry into the UK yachting market, in line with its strategy of investing in sustainable infrastructure that generates recurring revenues.
The Antin/Aquavista deal comes at a time of accelerating concentration in the sector. In the UK, Boatfolk has just been taken over by Premier Marinas, backed by the Wellcome Trust. Globally, the year's most significant transaction was that of Blackstone, which paid $5.6 billion to acquire Safe Harbor Marinas, the leading American network.
A major trend: the attractiveness of nautical infrastructures
Marinas, long perceived as secondary assets, are now seen as strategic investments. They offer stable income from mooring rentals, and benefit from the potential for value enhancement offered by the booming yachting industry. For infrastructure funds, this sector combines financial visibility with exposure to the blue economy, which explains the growing interest of institutional investors.
