Investment firms Blackstone and Donerail are among the final bidders to acquire MarineMax, according to reporting by Reuters. The news agency said private equity firm Centerbridge is also in the final round of bidding for the Clearwater, Fla.-headquartered company, according to sources who were not authorized to discuss the private deliberations.
Per the Reuters report, MarineMax has a market value of around $725 million and serves a clientele through its 65 marinas and storage locations and 70 dealerships, mostly in the U.S. Representatives for MarineMax, Blackstone and Donerail declined to comment to Reuters, and a representative for Centerbridge did not immediately respond to the news organization’s request for comment. Reuters noted that MarineMax has made changes aimed at addressing investor concerns, including replacing board directors, but has not publicly acknowledged a sales process, including on the day it reported quarterly earnings.
Reuters said Donerail began pushing MarineMax last year to change ownership or replace the chief executive, intensifying pressure after Levin Capital urged management and the board in 2024 to evaluate strategic alternatives. Reuters had reported in February that Donerail submitted an all-cash offer valuing MarineMax at around $1 billion and later raised that offer, while other buyout firms, including Blackstone, joined the process after MarineMax formally solicited buyer interest starting in April.
Reuters also pointed to broader dealmaking in marinas and superyacht services, citing Blackstone’s 2025 acquisition of Safe Harbor Marinas for $5.7 billion and Stonepeak’s April purchase of Southern Marinas.
