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Published:
12/03/2010
London Aquarium owners still hoping to float
Merlin Entertainments, owner of the London Eye and the London Aquarium, is eyeing the stock market once again following a 16.6 per cent jump in profits for 2009.
Sales at Merlin, which is the world’s second-biggest visitor attraction group after Disney, rose 16 per cent to £769m, with profits up to £239m. Visitor numbers also increased by 10 per cent to 38.5 million during the year, although the group, which also owns Madame Tussauds and Alton Towers, is still £1bn in debt.
The group, which has 58 attractions and six hotels in 12 countries, pulled out of a stock market float in February due to volatile markets, but chief executive Nick Varney said it was now a ‘strong option’.
Meanwhile, the London Eye celebrated its tenth anniversary this week. The wheel, which was originally only expected to reside on the Southbank for five years, is now likely to become a permanent fixture on London’s skyline.
The Sea Life London Aquarium was also celebrating this week, following the launch of a new Rainforests of the World area, featuring 13 themed displays. Over 4,000 marine animals are on display, including a pair of six-foot West African Dwarf Crocodile sisters together with a family of 15 deadly Poison Arrow Frogs and 30 flesh-eating piranhas. The new area is phase two of a complete transformation of the aquarium. The venue is available for events with 500 or more guests.
