Comcast NBCU To Buy 51% Of Universal Studios Japan

Comcast said in a statement Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Seoul-based private equity firm MBK Partners and others will retain a 49 percent stake in USJ, the operator of Universal Studios Japan.

Comcast’s NBCUniversal unit will buy the stake in USJ, the operating company of the Osaka-based Universal Studios Japan theme park.

Universal Studios Japan opened in 2001 to become a major tourist draw in the Kansai region of western Japan.

Comcast Chief Executive Brian Roberts told reporters there were no plans for an IPO in the near term, but added a new board would revisit the idea.

But visitor numbers have been picking up on the back of new attractions such as the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which opened in July a year ago. “This investment represents a huge opportunity and commitment to creating value for our shareholders and continuing to grow internationally”.

Tokyo’s Disney Resort, which includes Disneyland and DisneySea, also had a record year with 31.4 million visitors though its growth was just 0.3 percent. $1.67 billion in 2013, which gave it full ownership of NBCUniversal, as well as the NBC broadcast network, and cable channels MSNBC and Bravo.

Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is one of the three theme parks owned by USJ Co., Ltd. It got listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Mothers market in 2007, but got delisted in 2009 owing to a declining number of visitors and sales. Comcast NBCUniversal’s purchase price for the majority ownership of the popular theme park destination is ¥183 billion (US$1.5 billion). “J.L.’s broad experience with our business as well as his significant global experience make him the flawless person to continue to lead Universal Studios Japan into the future”.