Theme parks to be placed on the stock market

The Swarm at Thorpe ParkAlton Towers and Thorpe Park are to be placed on the stock market by their owner, businessman Nick Leslau.

The attractions are currently operated by Merlin Entertainments on renewable 35-year leases, but are not owned by the company.

Lesau’s portfolio of properties also includes the Merlin-operated attractions Warwick Castle and Madame Tussauds, and is valued at £1.45 billion.

The Financial Times newspaper is reporting that his business, Prestbury Investments, will become a public company at an unspecified date in the future.

The article said that the floated investment company would “specialise in assets that offer long-term rental income streams with contractually required future rental increases”.

Merlin Entertainments became a public company when it floated on the London Stock Exchange last year.