AusLeisure

Village Roadshow has been on the acquisition trail of international attractions purchasing Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World in Auckland for AUS $11.3million from New Zealandâs Tourism Holdings and the Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park on the Hawaiian island of Oahu for AUS $28.8million.

Speaking about the Kelly Tarlton's acquisition, Village Roadshow Managing Director, Graham Burke, stated "this is a wonderful opportunity to develop our strategic focus on attractions and theme parks, following on from our recent acquisition of Sydney Attractions Group.

"Kelly Tarlton's is an excellent fit with our Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Wildlife World and Sea World assets, bringing with it exciting marketing and operational synergies between them. In common with Kelly Tarlton's, our businesses combine entertainment and education with a strong commitment to research, conservation and our environmental heritage.

"Looking to the future, we will now be looking at various options to both upgrade the facilities at Kelly Tarlton's and explore with the local government authorities the potential to further improve the facility with a view to growing it's status as one of New Zealand's premier domestic and international tourist destinations."

A potential change of ownership for Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World first arose last year when now failing MFS Living and Leisure launched a takeover bid for Tourism Holdings.

Village Roadshow plans to develop the Hawaiian waterpark based on its success with Wet'n'Wild Waterworld on the Gold Coast.

25th February 2008 - TOURISM HOLDINGS PROFITS RISES

20th February 2008 - VILLAGE TO ACQUIRE SYDNEY ATTRACTIONS GROUP

12th February 2008 - DOWNHILL FOR MFS ASSETS 

4th February 2008 - SKYWALK OPENED UP TO TOWER VISITORS

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