LEGO owner set to acquire Merlin Entertainments’ portfolio of theme parks

Posted on 28th June 2019 By Billy Langsworthy

LEGO Roller Coaster
A consortium including LEGO owner KIRKBI and investment firms Blackstone and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is set to acquire Merlin Entertainments.

Merlin Entertainments’ line-up of attractions includes Alton Towers, the London Eye, LEGOLAND and Madame Tussauds, and the offer values Merlin at around £4.77bn.

“As the long-term owner of the LEGO brand and as a strategic shareholder in Merlin since 2005, we have great pride and passion for this amazing company, its management team and its employees,” said KIRKBI CEO Søren Thorup Sørensen.

“With a shared understanding of the business and its culture, we believe that this group of investors has the unique collective resources necessary to equip Merlin, including the LEGOLAND Parks and LEGOLAND Discovery Centres, for their next phase of growth. We are committed to ensuring LEGOLAND and the other activities in Merlin reach their full potential, which we believe is best pursued under private ownership, in order to deliver fantastic experiences to visitors of all ages around the world.”

Alton Towers KIRKBI LEGO LEGOLAND London Eye Madame Tussauds Merlin Entertainment Sorem Thorup Sorensen

More Recent News

LEGO, Bluey, Suzy Lee Raia, Roberta Cardazzo

LEGO debuts Bluey sets

“Bluey is the first IP to be developed into both LEGO 4+ and LEGO DUPLO ranges, which is a testament to the show’s cross-generational appeal,” said Suzy Lee Raia, SVP of Global Consumer Products at BBC Studios.

StoryToys, LEGO, Bluey, BBC Studios, Emmet O'Neill, Marina Mello

StoryToys readies LEGO Bluey mobile game

“By bringing the beloved character Bluey into the digital world of LEGO play, children can now explore Bluey’s adventures through fun and engaging content,” said Emmet O’Neill, Chief Executive of StoryToys.

Mattel, Warner Bros. Discovery, DC, Nick Karamanos, Robert Oberschelp

Mattel and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products sign multi-year licensing partnership for DC

“It is an incredibly proud milestone to welcome DC back to Mattel,” said Nick Karamanos, Senior Vice President of Entertainment Partnerships at Mattel.

Wow! Stuff, TOTY, Dawn Lavalette

Wow! Stuff becomes first British toy company to win two TOTY Awards in a single year

“I am so proud of everyone at Wow! Stuff for not only creating the Disney Stitch Puppetronic by RealFX, but also turning it into a global blockbuster and pioneering a new category in toys,” said Wow! Stuff’s Managing Director, Dawn Lavalette.

Kaleidos Creative

Kaleidos Creative debuts latest lines, CatScans and Abducted

Kaleidos is showcasing the ranges, along with other new blind boxes, plush, art vinyl and art cards, at Emerald City Comic Con this weekend.

Just Play, Joel Berger, Jess Richardson

Just Play’s debut games slate to include Skip It, Simon Jump Game Mat and Wheel of Fortune

“We are approaching this exciting new venture with the same discipline for quality, value, and speed to market that has always been our cornerstone,” said Joel Berger, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Just Play.

Latest Jobs

View all jobs

Upcoming Events

View all events
Stay up to date with the latest news, interviews and opinions with our weekly newsletter
Back to top arro

Sign Up

Enter your details to receive Mojo updates & news.