Gold Coast theme parks operator Village Roadshow gets second takeover offer

Gold Coast theme park operator Village Roadshow has received a new takeover offer which improves on the bid made by private equit firm BGH.

THEME parks operator Village Roadshow Ltd has received a second takeover offer, with private equity firm BGH Capital bettering an offer by a rival firm late last year.

In an ASX announcement this morning, Village said BGH’s indicative price of $4 cash per share represents a premium of 25 per cent to the company’s closing share price of $3.20 on December 18, the last trading day before the announcement of the $3.90 proposal from Pacific Equity Partners.

It’s the second offer in just over a month. Photo: Annette Dew

THEME PARK TAKEOVER ‘THE BEST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN’

“BGH has indicated it is willing to offer all cash consideration or a combination of cash and unlisted shares (subject to caps and scale back provisions) in a newly incorporated holding company,” the statement said.

“The BGH Proposal is subject to a number of conditions, including completion of due diligence, arrangement of financing, FIRB approval and recommendation by the VRL Board. The proposal is also conditional on VRL and BGH establishing a set of protocols in relation to information sharing and confidentiality.”

The deal values the company at more than $700 million.

$1B BID FOR COAST THEME PARK OWNER

The PEP deal values the company at $761.2 million, not including debt, while the new offer is worth $780.7 million.

An independent Committee of the Village Board of Directors is reviewing both offers.

Village Roadshow has appointed UBS and Stratford Advisory Group as financial advisers and MinterEllison as legal adviser.