Clown fish
Bowman
Earth Explorer Apollo 3000

A history of success

Merlin Entertainments Group has consistently delivered sustained growth, out – performing its competitors through a programme of organic growth –innovation/development at existing sites, expansion into new locations, and the development of new brands – coupled with strategic acquisitions.

1999
  • Merlin Entertainments Group formed via £47m MBO from Vardon - backed by APAX – kicked off a period of organic growth
2000
  • Opening of Dungeons in Hamburg and Edinburgh
to
  • Continued expansion of the SEA LIFE Centre brand in Europe, including at Disneyland Paris as first third-party attraction brand for Disney resort, Helsinki, Speyer, Berlin and the first mobile SEA LIFE Centre at Dortmund
  • Visitor numbers up 25% since buyout to over 5 million
2004
  • New brand launched in Belgium - Earth Explorer
  • New SEA LIFE Centres in Oberhausen and Dresden (mobile)
  • Merlin now Number 1 attraction operator in Germany
  • Secondary buyout backed by Hermes Private Equity EBITDA +104% 2000 - 2004
2005
  • Second mobile SEA LIFE Centre launched in Nürnberg; new SEA LIFE Centre in Königswinter; new Dungeon in Amsterdam
  • Blackstone purchased Merlin for £102m
  • LEGOLAND acquisition makes Merlin No 2 in Europe/No 9 in world
2006
  • Continued expansion of SEA LIFE with new Centres in Munich and Loch Lomond
  • Italian acquisitions: Aquatica Water Park, Milan; and Italy's No 1 theme park - Gardaland (Park and Hotel)
  • Merlin Now No 1 European Visitor Attraction Operator/No 6 Worldwide
  • Launch of Pirate Shores in LEGOLAND California delivers highest growth in US theme park in 2006.
2007
  • New SEA LIFE Centre in Hanover opened February
  • First 'LEGOLAND Atlantis by SEA LIFE' opened in Billund in March 2007 - new concept bringing together 2 of Merlin's successful brands
  • LEGOLAND Discovery Centre - first of a new indoor interactive attraction opened in Berlin April 2007
  • Two new hotel openings Chessington World of Adventures; Heide Park
May 2007
  • Acquisition of Tussauds Group takes MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS GROUP TO NO 2 VISITOR ATTRACTION OPERATOR IN THE WORLD
2007
  • Madame Tussauds opened in Washington DC in November
2008
  • Acquisition of The London Aquarium in May
  • Announce plans for fifth LEGOLAND Park, and first Merlin attraction in the Middle East – LEGOLAND Dubailand – scheduled to open in 2011
  • Madame Tussauds opens in Berlin in July
  • LEGOLAND Discovery Centres open in Duisburg, Germany (May); Shaumburg near Chicago, USA (August)
  • SEA LIFE opened in Chessington World of Adventures in March, and in Gardaland (June), LEGOLAND California (July), Cuxhaven, Germany (July)
  • The Pepsi Globe observation wheel opens in Meadowlands Xanadu, New Jersey
2009
  • LEGOLAND Discovery Centre to open in Meadowlands Xanadu, New Jersey
  • Madame Tussauds to open in Hollywood, USA
2011
  • LEGOLAND Dubailand to open