Reuters news service is reporting that private equity firm CVC is in talks to purchase a 30 percent stake in Merlin Entertainments (now planning to open LEGOLAND® Florida here in Winter Haven).
According to Reuters, “The deal would value Merlin Entertainments at approximately 2.5 billion pounds ($3.71 billion), one of the sources said, with CVC Capital Partners, Blackstone and Kirkbi A/S — the Danish investment company owned by the family behind the Lego brand — owning about 30 percent of the business each.”
Kirkbi owns about 36 percent of the business, while Blackstone owns approximately 52 percent. A deal with CVC would allow the U.S. buyout firm to reduce its stake and return cash to its investors.
Merlin has grown into the second largest theme park operator behind Disney during Blackstone’s ownership. You can read the complete Reuters report here.
Editors note 6-24-10: The Wall Street Journal reported this same speculation in today’s edition.
Thanks, Bob, for posting this info! Should be interesting to see what implications this may have for us….