Disclaimer :

The Competition DG makes the information provided by the notifying parties in section 1.2 of Form CO available to the public in order to increase transparency. This information has been prepared by the notifying parties under their sole responsibility, and its content in no way prejudges the view the Commission may take of the planned operation. Nor can the Commission be held responsible for any incorrect or misleading information contained therein.

SECTION 1.2

Description of the concentration

Merlin Entertainments Group Luxembourg S.a.r.l ("Merlin") has agreed to purchase from Dubai International Capital LLC ("DIC") The Tussauds Group Limited ("Tussauds").

Merlin is part of The Blackstone Group ("Blackstone"). Blackstone is a private merchant banking firm based in the US and is active mainly in financial advisory services, private equity investing and property investment. It controls portfolio companies which are active in the leisure attractions industry through various theme/amusement parks and visitor attractions in Europe and the USA, including the Dungeons (in London, Edinburgh, York, Hamburg and Amsterdam), Sea Life Centres and seal sanctuaries in the UK, France, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, Finland, Spain and Germany, the Earth Explorer theme park in Belgium, the Gardaland Theme Park and Hotel in Italy, and the four Legoland theme parks in the UK, Denmark, Germany and the USA.

Tussauds is active in the leisure attractions industry. It owns and operates Madame Tussauds (in London, New York, Las Vegas, Amsterdam and Hong Kong), Alton Towers Theme Park, Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures in the UK, Heide Park in Germany, and the London Eye and Warwick Castle in the UK.