DC Advisory acts as exclusive financial advisor to Antin Infrastructure Partners on the acquisition of Aquavista Watersides & Marinas
Background
- Founded in 2003 and based in Nottingham, Aquavista Watersides & Marinas is the UK’s largest marina infrastructure provider with 32 inland and coastal marinas offering over 5,300 berths and marine services across the country
- Aquavista has held a seven-year partnership with LDC during which it has nearly tripled revenue and doubled the size of its marina portfolio through a series of strategic acquisitions. This includes the transformational acquisition of Castle Marinas in 2021
- Antin Infrastructure Partners is a leading independent private equity firm focused on Infrastructure. Antin has over €33bn in assets under management across its Flagship, Mid Cap and NextGen investment strategies. Antin has offices in Paris, London, New York, Seoul, Singapore and Luxembourg
Process
- DC Advisory was appointed as exclusive financial advisor to Antin on the acquisition of Aquavista
- DC Advisory leveraged its knowledge of Aquavista, its unique sector expertise and market intelligence to provide Antin with comprehensive buy-side M&A services
Outcome
- In September 2025, Antin announced it had signed a binding agreement to acquire Aquavista
- The transaction is expected to close in October 2025 and is subject to customary closing conditions
- Through this transaction, Aquavista, led by Steve de Polo, is ideally positioned to be the consolidator of the fragmented UK market and deliver on its growth plan with the capital, expertise, and support from Antin
- This transaction reinforces DC Advisory’s expertise within the Marina sector and showcases DC Advisory’s track record of delivering premium buy-side advice
“Aquavista has all the characteristics we look for in our mid cap strategy, notably high barriers to entry and strong resiliency, and benefits from supportive long-term tailwinds. We look forward to working with Aquavista’s management and team to support the company’s continued growth in Marina Infrastructure. The support Nam, Oliver and team provided was essential in ensuring a successful outcome was achieved.”
“As the leading marina operator in the UK, the acquisition of Aquavista presented a unique opportunity to enter a space where we have strong conviction in the sector’s long-term growth prospects and back a highly qualified management team. We look forward to supporting them in the next phase of growth. DC Advisory introduced the opportunity and stayed with us to the very end, helping us execute the transaction.”
“This landmark transaction in the UK Marina space was possible due to Antin’s demonstrable conviction and decisiveness. Steve and the wider management team have built a premium asset in the Leisure and Infrastructure sector, which will continue to flourish under Antin’s ownership. This transaction solidifies DC Advisory’s expertise in Marina assets and exemplifies our ability to deliver exceptional buy-side advice to our clients.”
- Consumer, Leisure & Retail
- Infrastructure
- M&A Advisory
Disclaimer
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