2008 Profit Track 100
Rank: 9 Merlin Entertainments Group
Acquired Tussauds Group from Dubai International Capital for £1billion in 2007
Poole-based Merlin Entertainments is the biggest visitor attractions operator in Europe, and the second-largest in the world. Some 32m people visited its 52 attractions and six hotels last year. Spread across 12 countries and three continents, its estate includes The London Eye, 26 Sea Life attractions, five dungeons, four Legoland parks, five theme parks and seven Madame Tussauds. Chief executive Nick Varney has led three buyouts of the company, the most recent by Blackstone in 2005 for £103m. Profits have soared 89% a year, from £5.3m in 2003 to £35.9m in 2006. The business has since doubled in size to £1.3 billion through organic growth and acquisitions, including the £1 billion purchase of Tussauds Group from Dubai International Capital in 2007, and Italian theme park Gardaland, bought for £221m in 2006.
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Poole-based Merlin Entertainments is the biggest visitor attractions operator in Europe, and the second-largest in the world. Some 32m people visited its 52 attractions and six hotels last year. Spread across 12 countries and three continents, its estate includes The London Eye, 26 Sea Life attractions, five dungeons, four Legoland parks, five theme parks and seven Madame Tussauds. Chief executive Nick Varney has led three buyouts of the company, the most recent by Blackstone in 2005 for £103m. Profits have soared 89% a year, from £5.3m in 2003 to £35.9m in 2006. The business has since doubled in size to £1.3 billion through organic growth and acquisitions, including the £1 billion purchase of Tussauds Group from Dubai International Capital in 2007, and Italian theme park Gardaland, bought for £221m in 2006.
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Company facts
Merlin Entertainments Group
Visitor attraction operator
Company website
| Profit growth | 89.39% pa |
| 2006 profit | £35.9m |
| 2003 profit | £5.3m |
| 2006 staff | 3,617 |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Location of HQ | Poole |
| If applicable: * = annualised figures ‡ = draft accounts |
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