Blackstone Offers To Sell 50 Percent Stake In Universal Orlando

Private equity firm Blackstone has offered to sell its 50 percent ownership of Universal Orlando theme park and resort to NBCUniversal — the owner of the other 50 percent.

Blackstone’s plan was disclosed in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Universal City Development Partners Ltd. – an entity created by Blackstone for the transaction. NBCUniversal — which itself was acquired by Comcast Corporation from General Electric in January for $13.45 billion in cash and assets — has until June 12 to accept Blackstone’s offer.

Blackstone purchased the 50 percent stake in Universal Orlando back in 2000 from Rank Group PLC for a total of $2.07 billion.

“We are studying the proposal and considering our options,” said NBCUniversal spokesperson Cindy Gardner.

A Blackstone spokesperson didn’t return the Wall Street Journal’s messages seeking comment.

Read more: Online WSJ (sub. req’d.)