Grumpy
03-07-2009, 07:01 PM
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29536523/
ORLANDO, Fla. - SeaWorld, one of Orlando's largest theme parks, could be for sale.
Less than a year after buying Anheuser Busch and its theme parks, the new Belgian owners of SeaWorld say they might sell all of those parks. In Orlando, that includes SeaWorld, Discovery Cove and Aquatica.
Plunging profits for its owner, Anheuser-Busch InBev, has the future of SeaWorld and nine other Busch parks up in the air. The world's largest brewer said it now will focus on reducing the massive debt from InBev's $52 billion takeover of Anheuser Busch last year and sell off some $7 billion in assets.
The company, however, would not confirm which assets it plans to sell but said they are "non-core" parts.
Rollins Professor Rick Foglesong said Thursday that selling the theme parks makes sense, because the theme park business is "not so good these days." Plus, he said, it is typical for a large corporation to sell off some parts after buying a company.
Foglesong, author of
Married to the Mouse: Walt Disney's Impact on Central Florida,
said if the Belgian Brewer sells SeaWorld, it might not be a bad thing.
"If SeaWorld comes to be owned by a company that...might be someone closer to home, that would really be good," he said.
ORLANDO, Fla. - SeaWorld, one of Orlando's largest theme parks, could be for sale.
Less than a year after buying Anheuser Busch and its theme parks, the new Belgian owners of SeaWorld say they might sell all of those parks. In Orlando, that includes SeaWorld, Discovery Cove and Aquatica.
Plunging profits for its owner, Anheuser-Busch InBev, has the future of SeaWorld and nine other Busch parks up in the air. The world's largest brewer said it now will focus on reducing the massive debt from InBev's $52 billion takeover of Anheuser Busch last year and sell off some $7 billion in assets.
The company, however, would not confirm which assets it plans to sell but said they are "non-core" parts.
Rollins Professor Rick Foglesong said Thursday that selling the theme parks makes sense, because the theme park business is "not so good these days." Plus, he said, it is typical for a large corporation to sell off some parts after buying a company.
Foglesong, author of
Married to the Mouse: Walt Disney's Impact on Central Florida,
said if the Belgian Brewer sells SeaWorld, it might not be a bad thing.
"If SeaWorld comes to be owned by a company that...might be someone closer to home, that would really be good," he said.