Merlin Entertainments shares plunge after UK terror attacks see 'difficult' summer trading
THE owner of Madame Tussauds and Alton Towers has seen its shares plunge by a fifth as UK terror attacks took the shine off a worldwide Peppa Pig deal.
Merlin has seen its shares plunge by a fifth after the UK terror attacks
Merlin Entertainments' latest trading figures have confirmed a "difficult" summer for the company's London attractions and UK theme parks after a spate of terrorist attacks.
With shares down from 71¾p to 378p, the group's like-for-like revenue growth almost ground to a halt, edging up 0.3 per cent in the 40 weeks to October 7.
Poor late summer weather across the UK and Northern Europe and extreme weather in Italy and Florida were also to blame, according to Merlin.
Merlin's shares down from 71¾p to 378p,
The stock market hammering came despite the group unveiling a deal to roll out new Peppa Pig attractions worldwide.
Merlin Entertainments has struck an agreement with Entertainment One - which owns the rights to the character - to develop new attractions and themed accommodation based on the pre-school favourite.
But the deal does not cover the UK, where there is already Peppa Pig World at Paultons Park in Hampshire under a longstanding agreement.