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PORT 32 Marinas and Acme Marinas Announce Strategic Merger of Marina Portfolios

by PORT 32 Marinas 18 Jun 14:16 PDT

PORT 32 Marinas, LLC (PORT 32) and Acme Marinas, LLC (Acme) have announced a combination that creates one of the largest and strategically positioned marina platforms along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. The transaction brings together a portfolio of premier waterfront assets in some of the nation's most sought-after coastal destinations, enhancing scale, geographic diversification, and long-term growth opportunities for the combined organization.

The combination of Acme's seven marinas and PORT 32's ten properties creates a diversified platform of 17 premier waterfront locations with approximately 4,000 slips in the nation's most desirable boating markets. Together, the companies establish a broader presence in iconic coastal destinations, including the addition of Martha's Vineyard, Sag Harbor, Cape Cod, Annapolis, and Sanibel Island, reinforcing PORT 32's position as a leading marina platform focused on exceptional locations and customer experiences. Importantly, each property will retain its unique character and local identity, while the combined team will continue serving customers across all locations without interruption.

"The combination with Acme Marinas accelerates our vision to build a leading coastal marina platform," said Austin Schell, CEO of PORT 32. "By bringing together complementary portfolios, additional talent, and a shared commitment to service excellence, we are creating a stronger organization that will deliver greater value to our members, shareholders, and employees."

PORT 32, backed by Fireside Investments, has spent over a decade refining marinas in some of the nation's most popular coastal markets, including Palm Beach Gardens, Fort Lauderdale, Naples, Marco Island, Cape Coral, Tampa, Tierra Verde, Jacksonville and Lighthouse Point in FL, as well as Morehead City, NC. PORT 32 offers leading customer service, concierge technology, and modern infrastructure to boating enthusiasts.

Acme Marinas, backed by Koch Real Estate Investments, was founded in 2021 with a mandate focused on acquiring and operating marinas that deliver best-in-class experiences. Acme has assembled a portfolio of seven premier properties, each selected for its irreplaceable waterfront location and its capacity to provide a full suite of critical marine services to vessel owners.

Acme's portfolio includes Sag Harbor Yacht Yard, Annapolis Landing Marina, Sanibel Marina, MacDougalls' Cape Cod Marine Service, Falmouth Marine Yachting Center, Falmouth Ferry, Coinjock Marina & Restaurant, and Vineyard Haven Marina, a collection spanning some of the most sought-after boating destinations on the Eastern Seaboard.

"What drew us to PORT 32 was the quality of its marinas, the strength and complementary nature of its team, and its high standards for customer service," said Shelby Tucker and Stephen Shaw, Co-Presidents of Acme Marinas. "Their focus on infrastructure quality, operational excellence, and the boating experience made this the right combination for our portfolio and for the members who call our marinas home."

PORT 32 CEO Austin Schell will continue to serve as CEO of the combined organization. The Acme team will continue in key leadership roles for the combined platform, with Stephen Shaw serving as Chief Investment Officer and Shelby Tucker as Chief Financial and Chief Administrative Officer. This leadership structure reflects a deliberate commitment to continuity, ensuring a seamless experience for members while preserving the local expertise and relationships that define each marina across both portfolios.

The announcement comes as PORT 32 has officially begun pre-leasing for PORT 32 Palm Beach Gardens, a newly constructed, state-of-the-art marina redefining the boating experience in northern Palm Beach County. The ground-up redevelopment will debut in December 2026 with 450 total slips, including 430 enclosed CAT 5 hurricane-rated dry slips and 20 wet slips, further demonstrating PORT 32's continued investment in premier, purpose-built marina infrastructure across Florida's most coveted coastal markets.

Lazard Frères & Co. LLC acted as exclusive financial advisor, and Latham & Watkins LLP served as legal counsel to PORT 32 Marinas. Moelis & Company LLC served as exclusive financial advisor, and Jones Day served as legal counsel to Acme Marinas.

About PORT 32

Based in Charleston, South Carolina, PORT 32 is a leading owner, operator, developer, and acquirer of a growing collection of irreplaceable marina assets in premier markets across both coasts of Florida and North Carolina. PORT 32 Marinas has spent over a decade refining marinas in some of the nation's most popular coastal waterfront destinations, including Jacksonville, Palm Beach Gardens, Fort Lauderdale, Lighthouse Point, Tierra Verde, Tampa, Naples, Cape Coral, Marco Island and Morehead City, NC. The marinas offer exceptional customer service, concierge technology, and the transformation of any waterfront location into a vibrant, thriving community for boating enthusiasts. PORT 32 provides expertise in the development and management of marina assets to bring customers an unparalleled level of service within the marina industry. PORT 32 owns and operates a growing collection of marina assets in premier markets. For more information, please visit port32marinas.com.

About Acme Marinas

Acme Marinas, LLC ("Acme") is a Charleston-based real estate platform that invests in and operates marinas. The company seeks out high-quality, coastal marinas throughout the US that have built strong individual brands and operations for its boaters. Acme strives to maintain and build upon these characteristics including the name, the brand, and the strategic direction of marina operations. Acme is focused on building and cultivating relationships with the local community and on-site team to ease the transition process and ensure business operations continue to run seamlessly for both employees and customers. For more information, visit acmemarinas.com.

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