Report: Blackstone Group may buy AB InBev's parks

NEW YORK — Private equity firm Blackstone Group is looking into buying Anheuser-Busch InBev's theme parks, including its three SeaWorld venues and two Busch Gardens, according to a media report Wednesday.

Dow Jones Newswires – citing unnamed sources – said the firm was considering buying theme parks operated under Busch Entertainment Corp.

A spokesman for New York-based Blackstone said any comment now would be premature. A spokesman for Anheuser-Busch InBev declined to comment.

Anheuser-Busch InBev has made no secret of wanting to shed some of its assets since its $52 billion deal last year to buy Anheuser-Busch, which makes Bud Light and Beck's beers. The deal made the combined company the world's largest brewer.

Belgium-based InBev said then that it would fund the purchase in part by selling $7 billion in noncore assets.

CEO Carlos Brito told The Associated Press in an interview last week that the company was in no rush. Brito would not comment on plans to sell assets in the future, including the timing or specific targets.

Buying the parks could make sense for Blackstone, whose investments include Universal Studios Orlando and Madame Tussauds wax museums.

According to its Web site, Anheuser-Busch InBev owns 10 amusement parks, including three SeaWorlds, two Busch Gardens and such other parks as Sesame Place and Adventure Island.