Private equity wants Shamu? Blackstone may buy Anheuser-Busch InBev's parks
Filed under: Company News, Comcast
Shamu, the first female orca ever captured, has been dead for 38 years. Isn't it time the world's most famous performing killer whale got her own wax figure? With private-equity firm Blackstone Group, which owns Madame Tussauds wax museums, reportedly in talks to buy SeaWorld and Busch Gardens parks from brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD) for up to $3 billion, a Shamu immortalized in wax may no longer be out of the question. If this private-equity deal is completed, it would be the biggest in 2009 and one of the largest since the economic crisis began in 2008, The Wall Street Journal reports.The takeover could be announced as early as next week, but talks are continuing, and the deal could sink, The New York Times and The Journal say, both citing people familiar with the situation. Calls to both companies seeking comment on Saturday were not immediately returned.
The deal would add to Blackstone's theme park portfolio, which also includes Legoland through Blackstone's stake in Merlin Entertainment Group. Blackstone also owns 50 percent of Universal Orlando theme parks, The Journal says. The other owner is NBC Universal, which is reportedly in acquisition talks with cable giant Comcast (CMSCA).
When Belgium's InBev and U.S.-based Anheuser-Busch completed their $52 billion merger last year, the companies said they would seek to shed some $7 billion in assets, including the maker of Budweiser's entertainment offerings. The merged companies, which together represent the world's biggest beer maker by sales, already sold a South Korean brewery to the buyout firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts for $1.8 billion, The Times reports.
If the theme parks deal goes through, Blackstone would gain 10 amusement parks across the U.S., including SeaWorld parks, which feature the Shamu show named after the long-deceased whale, according to The Journal. The newspaper also said longtime Anheuser-Busch CEO August Busch III had expanded the company's theme parks through acquisitions because he believed having the parks would provide the brewer with insight into consumer behavior.
News of the potential transaction is already making a splash, apparently. The Journal reports that the animal-rights group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), sent a letter to Blackstone President Hamilton Jones "urging him to transfer all the animals at SeaWorld to coastal sanctuaries." But the paper said Blackstone declined to comment on the letter. As of June 30, 2009, Blackstone's corporate private-equity operation had $25.2 billion of total fee-earning assets under management, according to the company's website.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-03-2009 @ 10:48PM
S said...
They might as well buy Six Flags while they're at it.
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10-05-2009 @ 10:40AM
TD said...
Blackstone shouldn't buy Six Flags. Six Flags' parks are very trashy and basically parking lot fairs. Busch Gardens, Sea World and the rest of the Anheuser-Busch theme parks are very high quality, clean, beautiful parks. I am just hoping Blackstone will be willing to put money in the parks for new rides and attractions like Anheuser-Busch did BEFORE InBev acquired them.
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10-05-2009 @ 10:57AM
steve said...
You don't know your ass from first base TD!
10-05-2009 @ 11:37AM
Alison said...
Do you know why all Killer Whales at Sea World are called Shamu and Namu? It's because they all die so quickly in captivitiy. Sea World says it doesn't put wild born whales in it's parks....that's a lie. It has a deal with the Japanese, who trap the babies and take them from their parents and then sell them to Sea World. I don't give a damn how clean the park is, that's a horrible way to trap wildlfe and profit from it. I'll never set foot in one of those parks.
10-05-2009 @ 11:29AM
JW said...
Six Flags parks are certainly trashy compared to Universal and Disney. I cannot compare them to Busch Gardens or Seaworld because I have not been to them in decades. Six Flags should step up their game. They focus on raw thrills over asthetics... but you could have thrills and a nicer park!
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10-05-2009 @ 11:11AM
Wolfman said...
DISNEYLAND CA IS GOING DOWN THE TUBES MAY BE BLACKSTONE CAN BUY THEM TOO
THE WOLFMAN
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10-05-2009 @ 11:21AM
Kevin said...
How do you know that Disneyland, Ca is going down. From the last research given on disneyland, I know that they are still making money and growing. and to note that they are doing better than disney world, so get key facts before you make an inaccurate comment. Thank you.
10-07-2009 @ 3:33PM
Todd said...
Alison, not all the killer whales at Sea World are named Shamu and Namu. Each has their own individual name but those are the names people are familiar with so they stick with for the show. Not because of short life spans! As far was the deals with the Japanese Sea World has a very successful breeding program of its own. Lastly, they are one of the leading facilities in sea life conservation, research and rehabilitation. Unlike certain other groups who are a lot of talk and publicity stunts. Sometimes people need to do actual research and not just believe whatever the animal rights groups tell you.
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10-05-2009 @ 1:38PM
Seymour said...
For those of you who are always making innacurate comments, you're right in line with Druggie Limbaugh and Fox News, always shooting their mouths off with lies and innacuracies. The sad thing is...most of you believe these liars, the falsehood becomes reality in your mind. How do you think that idiot Bush got elected...TWICE? Duh!!!
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10-05-2009 @ 1:53PM
Kenny said...
That figures...The comment chain goes from a theme park aquisition to Bush-bashing in only 10 comments. Allison, the name "Shamu" translates to "Friend of Namu." Seymour, don't dare refer to Rush as a druggie, unless you're prepared to acknowledge that your President is a coke-head. Hypocrites to the very end, Obama the Chain-Smoker-in -Chief is on Mens' Health Magazine.
I hope the deal goes through because InBev hasn't done one thing to keep up Sea World or Busch Gardens that I have seen. Attendance is up this year, at least in the Florida parks in spite of that.
10-05-2009 @ 1:58PM
Momhadit said...
Allison, how do you know where they get their whales? Do you have an inside connection to Sea World? Whales that live in the wild ARE hunted, killed, slaughtered and eaten. Just as elephants are. The people who take care of the animals care about them. PETA people are idiots. Do you know about the Clyde Beatty and Cole Brothers Circus from a while back? They had the world's largest tiger and the world's largest elephant breeding camps in the world. They save these creatures and do not let hunters kill them, be it to make money or to eat.
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10-05-2009 @ 2:37PM
jojo said...
seymour....ur the dud......where did u get your brain....from the sewer.
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