It has been reported that Canadian property firm Brookfield is in talks with US private equity firm Blackstone in a deal to buy Center Parcs for £2.4 billion.
The UK holiday park company, which has been described as the “holiday the weather can’t spoil” first came onto the scene nearly 30 years ago and now operates five locations.
Brookfield has already spent billions this year in the UK including a £2.6 billion takeover of Canary Wharf, and plenty of office property in the Square Mile.
Center Parcs has been successful since it first opened in the UK in 1987 at Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, attracting nearly 2 million visitors a year with a 97% occupancy rate, and reached a profit last year of nearly £150 million.
However, the company went through a rough patch as public markets announced warnings over high energy prices and also the park was given the name “Center Pukes” when it incurred an outbreak of gastroenteritis in 2004 at Longleat Forest village, although it has since got back on track and there are now talks of a sixth park opening in Ireland.