Universal Buying Sea World/Busch Gardens (sort of...)

[WaltD4Me]

Wow. Seems the scuttlebutt is that Blackstone Group, who owns 1/2 of Universal is going to buy Sea World and Busch Gardens. I didn't see that one coming. Supposedly an announcement is coming tomorrow. Wow.

http://www.cfnews13.com/Business/LocalBusinessHeadlines/2009/9/22/seaworld_sold.html?cid=rss

 

[randomDisneyFan3000]

Blackstone Group is the only logical buyer of the parks. And there was the rumor a while back about Legoland. Legoland is owned by Blackstone.

Interesting.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Here is an AP report:

Report: Blackstone Group may buy AB InBev's parks
(AP) – 16 hours ago

NEW YORK — A media report says Blackstone Group is looking into buying Anheuser-Busch InBev's theme parks, including SeaWorld and Busch Gardens.
Dow Jones Newswires — citing unnamed sources — says the private equity firm is considering buying theme parks operated under Busch Entertainment Corp.
A spokesman for Blackstone said any comment now would be premature. A spokesman for Anheuser-Busch InBev declined to comment.

Anheuser-Busch InBev has made no secret of wanting to shed some of its assets since its $52 billion deal to buy brewer Anheuser-Busch last year.

Buying the parks could make sense for Blackstone Group, whose investments include Universal Studios Orlando and Madame Tussauds wax museums.