SeaWorld Entertainment Inc (NYSE:SEA) saw its shares jump 6% in pre-market New York trading after press reports said UK-listed theme parks operator Merlin Entertainments PLC (LON:MERL) has approached the marine park operator about a potential deal.
Merlin Entertainments - the owner of Legoland and Madame Tussauds - is however interested in just buying part of SeaWorld, and a split of the water park by venues may not be possible, according to a New York Post report.
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Bloomberg also noted that Merlin’s corporate policy bars the use of whales and dolphins in its properties, and that would keep it from bidding for SeaWorld locations in San Diego, Orlando and San Antonio.
Those parks represent about half of SeaWorld’s revenue, it added.
A SeaWorld spokeswoman said the company does not comment on rumours.
Sources quoted by Reuters said SeaWorld’s preference is to sell itself whole, and said the US group has also received indications of interest from other parties.
In pre-market trading, shares of Orlando-based SeaWorld were up 6% at US$14.96.
In London, FTSE 100-listed Merlin Entertainments saw its shares add 2.7% at 460.3p.