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NEWS
CVC prepares bid for Blackstone's £2.5bn Center Parcs
POSTED 09 Mar 2015 . BY Tom Anstey
Center Parcs Woburn has had a 99 per cent occupancy rate since opening earlier this year Credit: Center Parcs
CVC Capital Partners – one of Europe’s biggest private equity firms – is preparing to bid for the Blackstone-owned Center Parcs, thought to be worth around £2.5bn (US$3.8bn, €3.5bn).

The bid follows an £2bn (US$3bn, €2.8bn) attempt from BC Partners to buy Center Parcs in December. Blackstone rebuffed the bid, saying the offer undervalued the UK-based leisure operator.

Blackstone first purchased Center Parcs in 2006 and is currently exploring a listing on the London Stock Exchange. Blackstone reported 99 per cent occupancy for its newest site in Woburn Forest, Bedfordshire, since opening and is in talks with tourism authorities in Ireland over the construction of a resort there.

According to its annual review, Center Parcs reported earnings of £314.6m (€437.7m, US$475.2m) in the year ending April 2014. Blackstone recently launched the sale of its shares in Merlin Entertainments, with the sale worth £667.6m (US$1bn, €917.6bn).
PROJECT PROFILE:

Centre Parcs Woburn Forest
Centre Parcs' fifth UK village is now open in Woburn, Bedfordshire The park has a 17,000sq m lake at its heart, and features 625 lodges, a 75 bedroom hotel, an outdoor activity centre, an Aqua Sana spa and the largest of Center Parcs’ Subtropical Swimming Paradises. The swimming complex will be clam-shaped, and will feature three new water rides – Tornado, Twister and Typhoon, which are unique to Woburn Forest.

Location: United Kingdom

RELATED STORIES
  Center Parcs owner 'engages banks' on £2.5bn listing


US-based private equity group Blackstone has hired several investment banks to lay the foundations for a £2.5bn (US$3.8bn, €3.4bn) London listing of UK leisure resort chain Center Parcs, according to reports.
  Blackstone 'rejects' £2bn Center Parcs bid with plans to float on stock market


Blackstone – the private equity giant which owns Center Parcs – is believed to have rejected a joint £2bn (€2.5bn, $3.1bn) bid from BC Partners and the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) for the chain of leisure resorts.
  Spa Life UK to take place on 18-19 November at Center Parcs Woburn


The fifth annual Spa Life UK event will take place on 18-19 November at Center Parcs Woburn Forest, featuring a jam-packed schedule of talks from industry experts.
  Center Parcs CEO Martin Dalby calls for overhaul of ‘ridiculous’ UK planning process


As Center Parcs today opens its new £250m Woburn Forest holiday resort, CEO Martin Dalby has called for the UK government to take the development of major leisure investments more seriously.
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Jobs    News   Products   Magazine   Subscribe
NEWS
CVC prepares bid for Blackstone's £2.5bn Center Parcs
POSTED 09 Mar 2015 . BY Tom Anstey
Center Parcs Woburn has had a 99 per cent occupancy rate since opening earlier this year Credit: Center Parcs
CVC Capital Partners – one of Europe’s biggest private equity firms – is preparing to bid for the Blackstone-owned Center Parcs, thought to be worth around £2.5bn (US$3.8bn, €3.5bn).

The bid follows an £2bn (US$3bn, €2.8bn) attempt from BC Partners to buy Center Parcs in December. Blackstone rebuffed the bid, saying the offer undervalued the UK-based leisure operator.

Blackstone first purchased Center Parcs in 2006 and is currently exploring a listing on the London Stock Exchange. Blackstone reported 99 per cent occupancy for its newest site in Woburn Forest, Bedfordshire, since opening and is in talks with tourism authorities in Ireland over the construction of a resort there.

According to its annual review, Center Parcs reported earnings of £314.6m (€437.7m, US$475.2m) in the year ending April 2014. Blackstone recently launched the sale of its shares in Merlin Entertainments, with the sale worth £667.6m (US$1bn, €917.6bn).
RELATED STORIES
Center Parcs owner 'engages banks' on £2.5bn listing


US-based private equity group Blackstone has hired several investment banks to lay the foundations for a £2.5bn (US$3.8bn, €3.4bn) London listing of UK leisure resort chain Center Parcs, according to reports.
Blackstone 'rejects' £2bn Center Parcs bid with plans to float on stock market


Blackstone – the private equity giant which owns Center Parcs – is believed to have rejected a joint £2bn (€2.5bn, $3.1bn) bid from BC Partners and the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) for the chain of leisure resorts.
Spa Life UK to take place on 18-19 November at Center Parcs Woburn


The fifth annual Spa Life UK event will take place on 18-19 November at Center Parcs Woburn Forest, featuring a jam-packed schedule of talks from industry experts.
Center Parcs CEO Martin Dalby calls for overhaul of ‘ridiculous’ UK planning process


As Center Parcs today opens its new £250m Woburn Forest holiday resort, CEO Martin Dalby has called for the UK government to take the development of major leisure investments more seriously.
MORE NEWS
Rainer Maelzer joins Therme Group as chief entertainment officer
Rainer Maelzer, an experiential entertainment innovator, has been appointed chief entertainment officer by Therme Group.
Movie Park Germany reveals new Paramount attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK. 
Efteling expands family offer with new Hooghmoed drop tower
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
Universal and Puy du Fou projects point to rise of Oxford–Cambridge corridor
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COMPANY PROFILES
Painting With Light

By combining lighting, video, scenic and architectural elements, sound and special effects we tell s [more...]
TechnoAlpin Indoor

TechnoAlpin is the world leader for snowmaking systems. With the Indoor snow division, TechnoAlpin c [more...]
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We’re a Yorkshire-based online printer, founded in 2009 by Adam Carnell and James Kinsella. [more...]
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V.

Vekoma Rides has a large variety of coasters and attractions. [more...]
+ More profiles  
FEATURED SUPPLIER

Iconic Liverpool attraction opens door to new operators
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its next phase. [more...]
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

09-11 Jun 2026

World Sauna Forum 2026

Savutuvan Apaja, Haapaniemi, Finland
23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
ATTRACTIONS MANAGEMENT NEWS
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PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
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