11 Aug 2008
Parques eyeing up US rival bid
BY Pete Hayman
Candover, the owner of European theme park operator Parques Reunidos, is rumoured to be considering a bid for US-based theme park operator Busch Entertainment Corporation (BEC). BEC, which owns Sea World and Busch Gardens in the United States, is expected to be offloded by new owners, InBev, in a deal that could be worth a possible $4.5bn (£2.3bn). Belgium-based brewer Inbev acquired Busch last month as part of its take over of parent company Anheuser-Busch. According to the The Times, investment bankers Morgan Stanley has been hired by Candover to advise on a possible bid. Parques Reunidos, which was acquired by the British-based equity firm in 2007, already operates the largest chain of water parks in the US as well as a number of amusement parks and family entertainment centres. A spokesperson for Candover declined to comment on the speculation. Meanwhile, the UK-based attractions operator Merlin Entertainments is also reportedly interested in acquiring Anheuser, along with Disney and Dubai World.
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