Merlin (Blackstone) buy Busch parks!

Andy Hine MBE · Merlin (Blackstone) buy Busch parks!

Blackstone Acquires Busch Entertainment

Anheuser-Busch InBev announced today it will sell Busch Entertainment Corporation to The Blackstone Group for $2.3 billion in cash. InBev will also have a right to participate in Blackstone's return on investment up to $400 million. Blackstone, which will own 100 percent of Busch Entertainment, plans to keep the current management team and operate the company as a stand-alone investment. The deal includes a sponsorship agreement with Anheuser-Busch InBev allowing the Busch parks to continue using existing names and promotional campaigns.

Busch Entertainment has 10 United States theme parks, including SeaWorld, which host approximately 25 million visitors annually. Blackstone owns London-based Merlin Entertainments Group and holds a 50 percent stake in Universal Orlando.

Full story:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/bu...lando-sold-100709,0,1554695.story

Magic

Having visited Busch Gardens Africa today I'm happy to say that the quality is still high despite now being owned by the same parent company as Thorpe. But then it has only been 5 days.

Although the layout for the station on Sheikra needs sorting out, but that'll be left over from the good old days of the park being owned by Busch. Oh and the mantra for the staff on the beverage stall next to Sheikra is Service With A Sneer.