Off The Hook Yachts Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire the Apex Marine Group of Companies (APEX), Creating a Mega Service, Refurbishment & Sales Hub for Growing Global Customer Base
Rhea-AI Summary
Off The Hook Yachts (NYSE: OTH) signed a definitive agreement to acquire Apex Marine Group, adding four South Florida service, storage, and sales facilities with haul-out capacity up to 150 metric tons and space for vessels to 130 feet. The deal is expected to close in 60 days, pending customary due diligence. The acquisition aims to internalize refurbishment, reduce third-party costs, accelerate turnaround, and create a centralized global sales destination for international buyers and a larger inventory pipeline.
Positive
- Four South Florida facilities added to operations
- Haul-out capacity up to 150 metric tons and vessels to 130 feet
- Ability to process the vast majority of acquired inventory internally
- Expected millions in annual cost savings from reduced third-party services
- Centralized campus to create a global sales destination and scale inventory
Negative
- Transaction remains subject to customary due diligence and 60-day close timeline
- No purchase price or financial terms were disclosed, limiting investor assessment
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
No peers with momentum flags or same-day headlines were detected, suggesting this acquisition news was primarily stock-specific rather than part of a broader sector move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-02 | Regional partnership | Positive | -2.2% | Great Lakes expansion via Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales partnership. |
| 2026-01-28 | Media feature | Positive | +5.6% | New York Post feature on growth from start-up to NYSE listing. |
| 2026-01-26 | Regional partnership | Positive | +10.4% | Caribbean and Latin America expansion via CFR Yacht Sales agreement. |
| 2026-01-20 | Financing expansion | Positive | +3.4% | Inventory floorplan increased to support higher 2026 growth expectations. |
| 2026-01-16 | Corporate milestone | Positive | +4.3% | NYSE closing bell event tied to New York Boat Show presence. |
Recent business-development headlines (partnerships, expansion, media exposure) have usually been followed by positive price reactions, with one notable negative reaction to a strategic partnership.
Over the last few weeks, Off The Hook Yachts has reported multiple expansion and visibility milestones, including a Great Lakes partnership on 2026-02-02, a New York Post feature on 2026-01-28, and a Caribbean & Latin America partnership on 2026-01-26. It also boosted its inventory floorplan to $60 million and highlighted its NYSE bell-ringing in mid-January. Most of these events saw positive single- to low double-digit price moves, framing today’s APEX acquisition as another step in scaling its platform and infrastructure footprint.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement adds a physical mega-destination in South Florida to Off The Hook’s AI-driven marketplace, with four facilities, haul-out capacity up to 150 metric tons, and handling for vessels up to 130 feet. Management highlights potential for millions in annual cost savings and improved refurbishment control. In context of recent regional partnerships and increased inventory financing, this deal extends the company’s scale-up strategy. Investors may watch closing progress, integration execution, and any follow-on updates to revenue or margin expectations.
Key Terms
ai-powered technical
vertically integrated technical
haul-out technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Strategic move into physical global mega-destination site complements Off The Hook’s industry-leading AI-powered online marketplace, the largest of its kind for pre-owned boats in the U.S.
Centralized hub to support the Company’s rapidly expanding inventory pipeline and international buyer network
Wilmington, NC, Feb. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Off The Hook YS Inc. (NYSE American: OTH) (“Off The Hook Yachts” or “Off The Hook” or “the Company”), a vertically integrated, AI-powered marine marketplace, the largest buyer and seller of used boats in the nation, today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire APEX, a premier South Florida marine service, storage, and sales organization. The acquisition is expected to close in 60 days pending customary due diligence. The transaction delivers four strategically located South Florida facilities, a highly skilled full-service team, and infrastructure capable of transforming Off The Hook’s operational efficiency, refurbishment capacity, and global sales reach.
A Game-Changing Service & Refurbishment Platform
The APEX facilities include four prime South Florida storage and service locations, haul-out capability up to 150 metric tons and vessels up to 130 feet, comprehensive in-house service teams covering nearly every aspect of repair, refit, and refurbishment, and capacity to process the vast majority of Off The Hook’s acquired inventory internally.
“The integration of these capabilities is expected to generate millions of dollars in annual cost savings by eliminating third-party service dependencies, reducing transportation expenses, accelerating turnaround times, and enabling higher-quality refurbishments. This centralized approach enables Off The Hook to process more boats faster, standardize refurbishment quality, reduce cycle times from acquisition to resale, and scale inventory without proportional increases in overhead,” stated Brian John, CEO of Off The Hook Yachts.
Launching A Global Mega Sales Destination
With the new centralized campus, Off The Hook creates a destination where buyers from around the world can fly into Fort Lauderdale or Miami and access tens of millions of dollars in aggressively priced inventory in one location — a major step toward Off The Hook’s vision of transforming how used boats are bought and sold.
“This acquisition is fundamentally about operational dominance through infrastructure,” said Jason Ruegg, Founder of Off The Hook Yachts. “Facilities like these simply cannot be replicated in South Florida. Bringing this level of service, storage, and hauling capability in-house is a complete game changer for our efficiency, margins, and ability to scale.” Ruegg stated, “This acquisition simultaneously delivers premier locations, elite talent, major cost savings, and operational capabilities that are extraordinarily rare. APEX has built an exceptional team, and I will always be grateful to Issy Perera, the founder and principal of The Apex Marine Group of Companies, and his organization, for working with us to make this transaction possible,” Ruegg added.
The transaction also includes representation of respected brands such as Pursuit for Miami, and Solace and Fountain from Ft. Pierce to Key West. APEX is an award-winning dealership which has consistently been ranked as one of the top new boat dealers in Southeast Florida. The Company believes that the APEX acquisition opens the door for additional partnerships, as Off The Hook expands both its Sales and Service platforms.
About Off The Hook YS Inc.
Founded in 2012, Off The Hook YS Inc. is a vertically integrated, AI-powered marine marketplace transforming how boats are bought, sold, and financed across the United States. Leveraging proprietary technology, deep transaction data, and a national acquisition network, the Company increases speed, transparency, and inventory velocity across boat brokerage, wholesale trading, auctions, financing, and marine services, with an integrated ecosystem that includes Autograph Yacht Group, Azure Funding, and proprietary lead-generation platforms.
Contact
Investor Relations
ir@offthehookys.com
Dave Gentry
RedChip Companies Inc.
1-800-REDCHIP (733-2447)
1-407-644-4256
OTH@redchip.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “aim,” “should,” “will,” “would,” or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are based on Off The Hook YS Inc.’s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the final prospectus related to the public offering filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and Off The Hook YS Inc. undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.
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FAQ
What did Off The Hook (OTH) announce on February 20, 2026 about Apex acquisition?
How will the Apex acquisition affect Off The Hook's refurbishment capacity for OTH?
What operational savings does Off The Hook expect from the Apex deal for OTH shareholders?
When will the Apex acquisition close and are there any closing conditions for OTH?
Will the Apex acquisition change Off The Hook's global sales strategy for OTH inventory?
