Airtime&Gravity Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 Some of the UK's biggest tourist attractions - including Alton Towers - have changed hands in a £622m deal. Merlin Entertainments sold four attractions to property entrepreneur Nick Leslau, and will now rent the sites back under a 35-year lease. Merlin, which is owned by US private equity group Blackstone, said it would use the funds raised for an investment programme and to pay off some debt. Other sites being sold are Thorpe Park, Madame Tussauds and Warwick Castle. "Merlin will continue to operate and invest in these very important businesses exactly as before," the firm added. Mr Leslau's investment vehicle Prestbury will take over the sites under the agreement. News of the sale and leaseback deal comes just months after Merlin snapped up the four attractions as part of a £1bn deal. In March, Merlin bought the Tussauds Group from Dubai International Capital, a move it said created the world's second largest visitor attraction operator after Disney. Merlin has 51 attractions, in 12 countries, across three continents - Europe, North America and Asia - and employs over 13,000 staff. BBC Link Intresting since Blackstone just bought the parks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceDragon Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 Hate to say it, but this is old news... I just hope Merlin don't fudge things up or I'll have no home park... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airtime&Gravity Posted July 21, 2007 Author Share Posted July 21, 2007 Wait, I thought Blackstone just acquired it(changed it to Merlin Entertainment), and Blackstone is now selling the park again. Airtime-stupid RCPro(where I got the story) for being late on news...just like ACE-&Gravity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob.Lloyd Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 Lets hope they put some money back into the parks and buy a new Woodie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceDragon Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 Either a GCI woodie (a massive one) or a B&M floorless/hyper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ELZ Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 maybe they'll finally be clever enough to get rid of X:\Get_Me_Out....Please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob.Lloyd Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 ^ I thought they were retheming that ride ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 I was told that X:\WTF was barely any better after it's [insert figure] million pound refit. Having ridden Troy, I'm now seriously considering starting a major "Alton needs a GCI woodie" campaign. And I'm usually far too lazy to campaign for anything. We need to think of some campaigning techniques that haven't been used before, ones that will actually *work*. And shut up the Ropers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob.Lloyd Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 It was announced to The Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain that Alton Towers would get a new Woodie for the 2008 season, it would be on the same par as Megafobia. Having been to Alton lots this year so far there looks like no sign of construction work in the park. They did announce this about this before all the buying and selling of Tussuad's which make me think they have but the plans on the back burner for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPDave Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 The group hasn't been sold, just the land that most of the attractions are on. Blackstone still owns all the rides etc. on the land, they're just releasing equity. No change to operations or anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceDragon Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 I was told that X:\WTF was barely any better after it's [insert figure] million pound refit. Same ride with blue/green/red slow-strobe lights up the lift hill and blue/red static spotlights in the queue... It never made the grand £1m they were going to use. Having ridden Troy, I'm now seriously considering starting a major "Alton needs a GCI woodie" campaign. And I'm usually far too lazy to campaign for anything. We need to think of some campaigning techniques that haven't been used before, ones that will actually *work*. I'm all for it, but I think it should be bigger than Megaphobia... I'll find a few special campaigns soon... And shut up the Ropers. All they want is a relocation otherwise they'd shut up... How about 6ft under? My dark side came out then... I despise them for what they done to Oblivion... I'll never hear the announcements ever in my life... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fallen Heretic Posted July 22, 2007 Share Posted July 22, 2007 So many going concerns are changing hands these days. I guess its just how business works n general these days. If they want a reasonably sized woodie, they would have to dig a bloody big hole to put it in. Alton Towers generaly have to build downwards. Still, it did Nemesis no harm at all. Would be nice to have a good woodie there. A hyper would be pushing it though. I actually sympathise with the ropers, but only a little. Very, very little. Still, I think they are complaining out of principal now, rather than genuine need. Its not like they cant afford to move somewhere else quiet if they really cant stand it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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