MarineMax to be acquired by Blackstone's Safe Harbor for $1.5B

What happened

MarineMax (NYSE: HZO), a retailer of boats and marine accessories, has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Safe Harbor Marinas, a company owned by Blackstone Infrastructure, in an all-cash deal valued at about $1.5 billion. Under the terms, MarineMax shareholders will receive $53.00 per share in cash.

The announcement was made on Sunday, August 9, 2026, according to a Business Wire press release. News of the impending deal first emerged earlier that day from sources, and MarineMax shares closed at $52.16 on Monday, August 10, up just 0.1% from the prior session's close of $52.11, reflecting that the offer price had already been priced in.

The companies

MarineMax is a major boat retailer with over 120 locations worldwide, including more than 70 dealerships and 65 marina and storage facilities, according to its investor relations page.

Safe Harbor Marinas operates a network of marinas and is part of Blackstone Infrastructure, the infrastructure investment arm of private equity firm Blackstone.

What this means

This is a full acquisition, not a merger of equals. When a company agrees to be bought for cash, shareholders give up their stock in exchange for the stated price per share. The $53 offer represents a substantial premium over MarineMax's closing price of $35.68 on Friday, August 7, before the deal was reported, as noted in multiple news outlets.

If the transaction is completed, MarineMax would become a privately held company, and its common stock would no longer be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, according to a Las Vegas Sun report. That means current shareholders would no longer own shares in MarineMax but would receive the cash payment instead.

The deal is structured as a merger, with a definitive agreement already signed. Such agreements typically require approval from the target company's shareholders and regulatory clearances. The transaction is expected to close in a future period, though the exact timeline was not specified in the sources.