Hedge Fund Manager Merger Creates the World’s No 2 Visitor Attraction Company

Some of the biggest brand names in the global theme park market today

announced a partnership of two rapidly growing businesses, The Tussauds
Group and Merlin Entertainments Group, making them the world's second
biggest attractions operator after Disney.

Merlin Entertainments
Group is known for theme parks such as Legoland, Sealife and several
others. The company is controlled by hedge fund manager Blackstone
Group.

On the merger with Merlin, international investment
company Dubai International Capital LLC said, "Tussauds and Merlin are
very complementary businesses and there is an obvious commercial logic
in bringing them together."

The Tussauds Group is controlled by
Dubai International which is known for its $1.23 billion acquisition of
Travelodge, its $1 billion stake in DaimlerChrysler, and the $1.2
billion acquisition of Doncasters Group.

The Blackstone Group
has raised a total of more then $67 billion for hedge fund and
alternative investments since its formation. The group is currently
investing its fifth general private equity fund with commitments of
$15.6 billion. Other private equity investments in the leisure sector
have included Universal Studios in Orlando, and Six Flags Theme Park.

Alex Akesson
Contributing Writer
HedgeCo.Net
Email: [email protected]