MarineMax surges after report Safe Harbor nearing acquisition
BUZZ-MarineMax surges after report Safe Harbor nearing acquisition ** Shares of recreational boat retailer MarineMax HZO.N jump 45.6% to $51.95 premarket
** Blackstone-owned BX.N Safe Harbor Marinas is nearing a deal to acquire the yacht retailer for $1.5 bln, according to a Reuters report
** The report, citing sources, says Safe Harbor is set to pay around $53/share in cash, a ~49% premium to HZO's Fri closing price of $35.68
** MarineMax did not immediately respond to a request for comment and Blackstone declined comment
** Safe Harbor will own and operate all of MarineMax's business segments, some of the sources say
** A deal would cap months of pressure on the co from activist investor Donerail, which had been publicly urging MarineMax to sell itself since Oct
** As of last close, stocks up 47.3% YTD
(Reporting by Anand Gopal in Bengaluru)