Merlin buys Village Roadshow attractions in Australasia

[Chlidonias]

this seems to have escaped notice (I think). Merlin is the company that owns the Sealife Centres in the UK etc.
Merlin to Acquire Village Roadshow Assets for A$115 Million - Bloomberg

17 December 2010

Merlin Entertainments Group, the U.K. owner of Legoland and Madame Tussauds, agreed to buy tourism assets from Village Roadshow Ltd. for A$115 million ($113.9 million) to expand into the Australian and New Zealand markets.

Merlin will acquire Sydney Attractions Group and Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World from the Melbourne-based media and entertainment company in a cash transaction that is likely to be concluded in the first quarter of 2011, Merlin said in an e- mailed statement today.

The transaction gives Merlin Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Wildlife World, Sydney Tower Observatory and Skywalk, Manly Oceanworld in Sydney, and Hamilton Island Wildlife Park in Queensland, Merlin said in the statement. It also receives Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World in Auckland.

“This will be the perfect springboard as we work to continue the roll-out of the Sea Life, Madame Tussauds, Eye and Legoland brands in the Asia Pacific region, complementing our existing strength in Western Europe and North America,” Merlin Chief Executive Officer Nick Varney said in the statement.

Merlin and Village Roadshow agreed to explore attractions in Australia and Asia Pacific markets, according to the statement.

Merlin established Madame Tussauds in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Bangkok and will open a Legoland Park in Malaysia in 2012 with its partner Iskandar Investment Behar.

 

[CGSwans]

This is not exactly welcome news. I'd hate to think that Australia's premier aquarium might devolve into one of those bland, cookie-cutter SeaLife Centres.

If I recall it wasn't that long ago that Village Roadshow acquired the Sydney Attractions Group. I wonder why the quick turnover, with a loss on the transaction. Must have been a very weak 12 months or so for the business.

 

[Steve Robinson]

No mention of the Gold Coast "jewels".

 

[CGSwans]

No mention of the Gold Coast "jewels".

The Gold Coast properties are a separate (and profitable) division of Village Roadshow Ltd. They are not included in the sale.

 

[MRJ]

Merlin also own Chessington World of Adventures, which includes quite a large zoo. In fact it wa origionally just Chessington Zoo.

According to some sites they also own the National Seal Sanctuary, but when I went to that property's web site it appears to be owned by a charity. A bit confusing.

 

[MRJ]

Merlin also own Chessington World of Adventures, which includes quite a large zoo.

I'll have to correct myself. Have just been to the Chessington web site and the zoo angle seems to be quite minor now.

 

[Maguari]

I'll have to correct myself. Have just been to the Chessington web site and the zoo angle seems to be quite minor now.

It's quite a bit bigger now than it was just a few years ago, with a new small mammals area and an antelope/zebra paddock having opened. They also have a number of bigs cats, gorillas, sea lions, monkeys, birds, a reptile house, otters etc. It's nothing like the scale it was in the past, but it's not a tiny place.

But yes, for promotional purposes it's a theme park with a zoo attached, not an equal enterprise!

 

[zooboy28]

Kelly Tarltons Sale Approved

International amusements group Merlin Entertainment has been granted its wish to buy the Kelly Tarlton aquarium on Auckland's waterfront from Australian group Village Roadshow.

Ad Feedback Merlin runs 70 attractions in 16 countries, including Legoland and waxworks museum Madame Tussauds.

Because it was on sensitive land, the deal required Government approval from the Overseas Investment Office, which was given yesterday.

Campervan company Tourism Holdings sold Kelly Tarlton's to Village Roadshow in 2008 for $13 million, but no price was disclosed for the Merlin purchase.

The acquisition of the aquarium was part of a wider A$116m (NZ$157.5m) deal to buy the Sydney aquarium, Sydney Wildlife World, the Sydney Tower Observatory and other attractions in Australia.

Merlin runs the world's largest aquarium group, Sea Life.

Merlin has said it was committed to a multimillion-dollar investment programme for its new attractions in Australia and New Zealand. It also plans a Madame Tussauds in Sydney next year.

Hong Kong company plucks Tegel | Stuff.co.nz

 

[Gryphon]

"This is not exactly welcome news. I'd hate to think that Australia's premier aquarium might devolve into one of those bland, cookie-cutter SeaLife Centres."

Gotta be better than Village Roadshow. Bland, cookie-cutter seems better than irrelevant, tacky, noisy, insulting

 

[Hix]

I understand that Sydney Wildlife World will be reduced by approx. 50% to accomodate the Madame Tussauds attraction.



Hix

 

[kiang]

I understand that Sydney Wildlife World will be reduced by approx. 50% to accomodate the Madame Tussauds attraction.



Hix

that will please a few folk across the bay

 

[Jabiru96]

I understand that Sydney Wildlife World will be reduced by approx. 50% to accomodate the Madame Tussauds attraction.



Hix

What is "Madame Tussad"? This is not good news since SWW has been improving over the years with exhibits such as "Kakadu Gorge".

 

[Maguari]

What is "Madame Tussad"? This is not good news since SWW has been improving over the years with exhibits such as "Kakadu Gorge".

Madame Tussauds is a waxworks museum - the 'original' is in London but it has offspring in various other places (as well as wax museums started by members of the family, such as Louis Tussauds in Blackpool).

 

[Chlidonias]

What is "Madame Tussad"? This is not good news since SWW has been improving over the years with exhibits such as "Kakadu Gorge".

Madame Tussauds is a museum displaying life-size wax models of famous people. You wander round and look at the models and get your photo taken next to them if desired. They are found all over the world now.

EDIT: Maguari beat me to it. It is a great shame to do this to SWW. I'd personally much rather look at bulldog ants and goliath stick insects than a waxwork Paul Hogan!

 

[zooboy28]

I understand that Sydney Wildlife World will be reduced by approx. 50% to accomodate the Madame Tussauds attraction.



Hix

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Is there something we can sign to stop this???

Can't they put the museum in the boring old tower instead, currently the most disappointing attraction in Sydney???

 

[Chlidonias]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Is there something we can sign to stop this???

Can't they put the museum in the boring old tower instead, currently the most disappointing attraction in Sydney???

perhaps you should keep some anguish in reserve for whatever they have planned for Kelly Tarlton's -- after all, there's no Madame Tussauds in New Zealand yet....!

 

[zooboy28]

perhaps you should keep some anguish in reserve for whatever they have planned for Kelly Tarlton's -- after all, there's no Madame Tussauds in New Zealand yet....!

Well they're hardly going to put a Madame Tussads in a cramped old drain with no parking are they?

Are they?????

 

[Gryphon]

Not quite 50% Hix. The bottom floor critters will be moved up to the other floors. The infuriating thing about it is the plan to halve the butterfly exhibit. Why they can't leave that as a link between the floors/attractions and a lovely and unique entrance is beyond me. The exhibits at SWW are by and large great (IMO), but not enough mullah coming in so Kylie and Hoges it is.

On the upside, the grey nurse shark oceanarium is in for a big overhaul. 'Bout time too. Crabs anyone? Hopefully that is all they have planned for now, but methinks not.

 

[Jabiru96]

Madame Tussauds is a waxworks museum - the 'original' is in London but it has offspring in various other places (as well as wax museums started by members of the family, such as Louis Tussauds in Blackpool).

Oh no. I am literally speechless.

 

[Jabiru96]

Not quite 50% Hix. The bottom floor critters will be moved up to the other floors. The infuriating thing about it is the plan to halve the butterfly exhibit. Why they can't leave that as a link between the floors/attractions and a lovely and unique entrance is beyond me. The exhibits at SWW are by and large great (IMO), but not enough mullah coming in so Kylie and Hoges it is.

Why not just skip the Madame Tussads idea and keep Sydney Wildlife World how it was built? It really has no faults and attracts alot of tourists every year so I see no reason to halve it at all. What would you rather go to (as a tourist): A 'zoo' with iconic Aussie animals eg. cuddly koalas or kangaroos OR a typical wax museum that they have been to many times and now find boring.