ABOVE: Stealth coaster, courtesy Thorpe Park
London, UK (March 4, 2015) — Blackstone and CVC Captial Partners, the two majority shareholders of Merlin Entertainments, owners of LEGOLAND, Madame Tussaud’s, SEA LIFE, Alton Towers, and other attraction brands, have sold their remaining 156,541,347 shares for £653 million (around $900 million). The companies took Merlin public in November 2013 for £3.4 billion and have been incrementally selling down their shares since.
In addition, the two companies have announced that their non-executive directors, Dr Gerry Murphy and Rob Lucas, will not stand for re-election at Merlin’s Annual General Meeting.
Blackstone remains the largest shareholder of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment since that theme park chain’s IPO two years ago.