Antin Moves into UK Marina Market with £150m+ Aquavista Deal

French infrastructure investor rides wave of marina investment boom — could valuations continue to rise?

Antin Infrastructure Partners, a major French investor, is on the verge of acquiring UK-based marina operator Aquavista in a deal reportedly worth more than £150 million. The move marks Antin’s entry into the increasingly sought-after UK marinas sector, and could spark further investor interest in niche real estate and infrastructure plays.

Key Takeaways:

• Aquavista operates over 30 marinas and 5,000+ berths across the UK.
• Deal value exceeds £150 million, sources say.
• Owned by LDC (Lloyds Banking Group's private equity arm) since 2018.
• Follows increased investor activity in marina assets globally.
• Reflects growing appeal of lifestyle-led infrastructure investments.

A Rising Tide for Marina Investments

Antin Infrastructure Partners has entered exclusive negotiations to buy Aquavista, one of the UK’s largest marina operators. The deal is expected to exceed £150 million in value, placing Aquavista in the same league as recent global transactions involving marinas.

Aquavista, which has grown significantly under LDC’s ownership since 2018, expanded its footprint by acquiring Castle Marinas, including landmark locations such as Birdham Pool Marina in Chichester Harbour and Crick Marina, home of the Crick Boat Show.

The company now manages over 5,000 marina berths across the UK, positioning itself as a market leader.

Surge in Global Marina Deals

Antin's move follows hot on the heels of another UK deal: Boatfolk's acquisition by Premier Marinas, backed by the Wellcome Trust. Internationally, investor interest in marina infrastructure has surged. Most notably, Blackstone acquired Safe Harbor Marinas, the largest marina operator in the US, in a deal valued at $5.6 billion earlier this year.

This wave of activity points to a broader trend: investors are increasingly drawn to lifestyle real estate and alternative infrastructure assets that offer stable income, long-term leases, and protection from digital disruption.

What Does This Mean for Investors?

The Aquavista deal may signal:

• Increased valuations in lifestyle-led real estate sectors.
• Rising investor demand for niche infrastructure assets like marinas, data centres, and storage facilities.
• Steady long-term returns, due to limited supply and high demand in prime marina locations.
• Potential expansion or consolidation plays by infrastructure-focused funds like Antin and Premier Marinas.

For retail investors, this could mean looking at REITs or infrastructure funds with exposure to such niche segments.

Market Speculation and Outlook

While LDC and Antin have declined to comment, the exclusive talks alone indicate strong confidence in the UK marina sector.

With rising leisure boat ownership and increasing interest in domestic water-based tourism, particularly post-pandemic, marinas have become a resilient investment theme. If Antin closes the deal, it could further validate marina assets as a high-growth niche, possibly drawing more institutional capital into the space.

Conclusion

Antin’s expected acquisition of Aquavista highlights a growing appetite for unique, income-generating assets in the infrastructure and real estate sectors. For investors, this could signal new opportunities as marinas become an increasingly strategic asset class.

As this niche segment gains visibility, the valuation of existing operators may rise, and future deals could offer lucrative entry points for both private and institutional investors.

Source: (SKYMoney.com)