EQT taps advisors for strategic review of US business of Parques Reunidos, sources say
By Andres Gonzalez
LONDON, July 30 (Reuters) -Private equity firm EQT EQT.N has initiated a strategic review of the U.S. operations of Spanish amusement park operator Parques Reunidos that could lead to a sale of the business, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
JP Morgan is conducting the review, which could result in the sale or merger of the 15 leisure centres that the company operates in the U.S., the sources said on condition of anonymity because the discussions are private
The review is at an early stage, and it is premature to predict its outcome, according to one of the sources. EQT could choose to retain the asset following the review, the person said.
The potential sale of Parques Reunidos' U.S. operations, which represents over a third of the group's core earnings, could be valued at around 1 billion euros, according to the second source.
The review would start after the summer season, when the parks witness their highest visitor turnout, the person said.
Parques Reunidos did not reply immediately to a request for comment. JP Morgan declined to comment.
In 2023, Parques Reunidos' earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) reached 233.4 million euros, marking a 3.8% increase from the previous year, based on its latest public annual accounts.
The potential deal follows the $8 billion merger between two of the largest U.S. amusement park operators, Cedar Fair FUN.N and Six Flags Entertainment SIX.N, announced last year.
Despite ongoing inflationary pressures and economic uncertainty, Parques Reunidos projects a cash flow of 224.8 million euros in 2024, up from the 192 million euros achieved in 2023, according to its latest accounts.
Reporting by Andres Gonzalez, editing by Alexandra Hudson
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