Blackstone may buy AB InBev's theme park for $3 bn

Blackstone Group, the world’s largest private-equity firm, may buy the amusement-park business of Anheuser-Busch InBev for about $2.5 billion to $3 billion, according to a person familiar with the discussions.

An agreement may come as soon as next week, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. The negotiations may not result in a transaction, the person said. Representatives of Blackstone and InBev declined to comment.

InBev, the world’s largest brewer, inherited the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens amusement parks as part of its $52 billion merger with Anheuser-Busch last year. The company has since cut jobs, culled marketing budgets and sold assets to pay down debt.

Blackstone co-owns the Universal Orlando park with NBC Universal, a unit of Fairfield, Connecticut-based General Electric Co. The New York-based private-equity firm would add SeaWorld parks that are based in San Diego, San Antonio and Orlando, Florida, according to their websites.

Busch Gardens has parks featuring rollercoaster rides and other attractions in Tampa Bay, Florida, and Williamsburg, Virginia.