Following approval (from EU Competition Authorities) the deal announced in March between Merlin Entertainments Group (“Merlin”), and The Tussauds Group has been completed today. This deal creates the world’s second biggest visitor attractions operator after Disney – Merlin Entertainments Group.

Merlin’s 51 attractions and 4 hotels welcomed 30 million visitors in 2006, and are on track to increase that figure substantially in 2007. Globally it employs 13000 people in 12 countries and across 3 continents – Europe, North America and Asia. Merlin’s iconic brands – global and local - include LEGOLAND, Madame Tussauds, British Airways London Eye, SEA LIFE, Dungeons, Gardaland and Alton Towers. This unique and well balanced portfolio attracts a broad customer base, appealing to all age groups; with huge potential for organic growth.

The company, led by Chief Executive Nick Varney will operate in future under a new divisional structure comprising:

Resort Theme Parks incorporating Gardaland, Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Heide Park and Chessington World of Adventures;
Midway Attractions including Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE, London Eye, Dungeons, Warwick Castle, LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, Earth Explorer; and LEGOLAND Parks.
These will be supported by central development teams working to maximise the potential of existing sites; and find new locations and opportunities.

Peter Phillipson will become non-executive Chairman of the Group and Andrew Carr will remain as Chief Financial Officer.

Merlin’s proven growth success is based on its understanding and ability to develop highly distinctive and innovative brands, with strong core elements which are transferable across borders. This will remain central to the company’s future strategy. The new structure is designed to facilitate and accelerate the company’s dynamic plans, particularly in North America. In 2007/8 alone this includes:

• New SEA LIFE opened in Hanover (February 2007)
• Opening of first new indoor interactive City Centre attraction in Berlin – LEGOLAND Discovery Centre (April 2007)
• First ‘LEGOLAND Atlantis by SEA LIFE’ attraction opened in LEGOLAND Denmark in March 2007
• New leisure/corporate hotels to open at Chessington World Of Adventures in the UK in June 2007; and Heide Park in Germany in July 2007
• Madame Tussauds to open in Washington DC in October 2007; and in Hollywood in Autumn 2008
• 4 new SEA LIFE and LEGOLAND Discovery Centre projects planned for 2008
• Major new ride investment in Gardaland in 2008

Nick Varney commented:

‘The new Merlin Entertainments Group starts as an exceptional leisure business. It has an enviable combination of brands, expertise and resources second to none, not just in visitor attractions, but also in the leisure sector as a whole. We now have a clear opportunity to build on this with a strategy that includes:

- continued development of existing attraction sites

- roll-out of key midway brands in Europe, the USA, and beyond

- development of new ‘linked’/original attraction concepts eg LEGOLAND Discovery Centre and LEGOLAND Atlantis by SEA LIFE

- linking attraction concepts and hotels to create destination resorts.’

‘I believe that we now have a unique opportunity to become the world leader in location based, branded, quality family entertainment, and, with the support of our investors, my colleagues and I are entirely committed to achieving that objective’