Village Roadshow to Develop China theme parks

Latest News

April 1, 2011

Attractions / Design / Tourism / Waterparks /

Village Roadshow is to use proceeds from the sale of its stake in broadcaster Austereo to develop theme parks in China.

Having this week accepted Southern Cross Media Group's offer for its 52.5% stake in Austereo (fulfilling a minimum condition for Southern Cross's $741 million takeover of Austereo) Village will use the $362 million proceeds to develop theme park opportunities in China's Guangzhou province and Hainan Island, investing in its film and music production arm, and distributing $1 a share to shareholders.

Village Roadshow Chief Executive Graham Burke explained "I think this exercise is about reducing debt, rewarding shareholders and smart, underlined growth."

Burke added that China was about to be the biggest market in the world and that wealth there was "burgeoning".

Earlier this month, Village completed the sale of the Sydney Attractions Group, which includes tourist attractions Sydney Aquarium and Sydney Wildlife World, to British private equity company Merlin Entertainment Group for $115 million.

20th January 2011 - MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS GROUP ACQUIRES SYDNEY ATTRACTIONS GROUP FROM VILLAGE ROADSHOW

13th September 2010 - VILLAGE ROADSHOW TO BUILD WET’N'WILD SYDNEY

24th September 2009 - VILLAGE AXES SUNSHINE COAST WATERPARK PLANS

10th September 2009 - WET’N'WILD IN TOP 10 OF WORLD WATERPARKS

17th August 2009 - 70% OF CHINESE THEME PARKS ‘IN THE RED’

8th June 2009 - JAMBEROO TO SUBMIT KANGAROO ISLAND DEVELOPMENT PLANS

2nd June 2008 - SIX FLAGS PLANS MOVE INTO CHINA

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.