Blackstone Infrastructure has announced the acquisition of Safe Harbor Marinas, the largest marina and superyacht servicing company in the United States, from Sun Communities, Inc. for $5.65 billion. Safe Harbor operates 138 marinas across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, leading the boat storage and servicing industry. The investment strengthens Blackstone Infrastructure’s portfolio, which has expanded 40% year-over-year, managing $55 billion in assets as of December 31, 2024. Strategic Growth in Leisure and Coastal Development Heidi Boyd, Senior Managing Director at Blackstone Infrastructure, emphasized the sector’s strong market potential. “Marinas benefit from key long-term thematic tailwinds including the growth of travel and leisure as well as population inflows into coastal cities. We believe Safe Harbor is the best positioned company in this sector, and we look forward to working with their terrific team to invest behind their existing marinas and to expand their footprint.” This acquisition aligns with Blackstone’s strategy of investing in high-growth infrastructure sectors. The firm’s portfolio includes QTS, the largest U.S. data center provider; AirTrunk, the leading Asia-Pacific data center platform; Carrix, North America’s top marine terminal operator; and Invenergy, the largest private renewables developer in the U.S. Advisors and Financial Support Wells Fargo served as the lead financial advisor, providing committed financing for the transaction. Legal advisory was handled by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. Blackstone’s Infrastructure Vision Blackstone Infrastructure focuses on energy, transportation, digital infrastructure, and water and waste management. With a long-term investment approach, it aims to enhance large-scale assets while ensuring sustainable growth and stakeholder value. This latest acquisition underscores Blackstone’s commitment to high-value, long-term infrastructure investments, reinforcing its position as a leader in the global infrastructure market.Image Source:www.forbes.com