StarParks

StarParks was a European theme park operator and holding company established in 2004 by the British private equity firm Palamon Capital Partners. It was formed as the successor to the Six Flags European Division after Palamon acquired the European parks of Six Flags Inc. in 2004. Headquartered in Wavre, Belgium, StarParks brought together seven theme parks across four European countries: Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and France. Its portfolio included Movie Park Germany and all six parks of the Walibi group, including Bellewaerde Park. At its creation, StarParks inherited the position of the third-largest amusement park operator in Europe. The group's ownership structure changed significantly in 2006, when Palamon sold Bellewaerde and the Walibi parks—excluding Walibi Lorraine—to the French chain Grévin & Cie. Walibi Lorraine was acquired by regional investors and renamed Walygator Parc for the 2007 season. Movie Park Germany remained under Palamon's ownership until 2010, when it was sold to Parques Reunidos. That sale marked StarParks' exit from the theme park business, and the company ceased to operate as a park group. StarParks was a private company throughout its existence, wholly owned by Palamon Capital Partners, and never traded on a public stock exchange.

StarParks was created in 2004 when the British investment firm Palamon Capital Partners acquired the European parks of Six Flags Inc. and established a new umbrella organization as the successor to the Six Flags European Division. At the time of its formation, the Six Flags European Division had been the third-largest amusement park operator in Europe, and StarParks inherited that portfolio. The new group was headquartered in Wavre, Belgium, and operated seven theme parks in four European countries: Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and France. Its holdings included Movie Park Germany and all six parks of the Walibi group, including Bellewaerde Park. The group's composition changed in 2006 when Palamon sold Bellewaerde and the Walibi parks—with the exception of Walibi Lorraine—to the French chain Grévin & Cie. Walibi Lorraine was instead taken over by regional investors and renamed Walygator Parc for the 2007 season. Movie Park Germany remained in the hands of the investors until 2010, when it was sold to Parques Reunidos. That transaction was StarParks' final divestment, and with it the group gave up its last theme park. StarParks thus operated as a park group from 2004 to 2010, after which it ceased to exist as an active operator.

• 2010

  Movie Park Germany is sold to Parques Reunidos, marking StarParks' final divestment and exit from theme park operations.

• 2007

  Walibi Lorraine, acquired by regional investors, is renamed Walygator Parc for the season.

• 2006

  Palamon sells Bellewaerde and the Walibi parks (except Walibi Lorraine) to the French chain Grévin & Cie.

• 2004

  Palamon Capital Partners acquires the European parks of Six Flags Inc. and founds StarParks as the successor to the Six Flags European Division, headquartered in Wavre, Belgium.

A private-equity-backed European theme park group formed from Six Flags' European assets, positioned as one of the largest park operators in Europe before being broken up and sold between 2006 and 2010.

• Movie Park Germany

• Walibi parks (six parks)

• Bellewaerde Park

• Walibi Lorraine (later Walygator Parc)

1. 1StarParks – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
2. 2StarParks – Wikidatawikidata.org