EQT to sell €1.7 billion stake in Spain's Parques Reunidos, Expansion says (updated)
UPDATE 1-EQT to sell €1.7 billion stake in Spain's Parques Reunidos, Expansion says Adds Parques Reunidos comment in fifth bullet point
Sept 25 (Reuters) - Swedish private equity firm EQT EQTAB.ST is preparing to sell its controlling stake in Spanish theme park operator Parques Reunidos, newspaper Expansion reported on Friday, citing unnamed market sources.
The private equity firm has hired JPMorgan to help with the sale of the stake, Expansion said
According to the sources, the stake is valued at about €1.7 billion ($1.9 billion)
Parques Reunidos manages dozens of theme parks, zoos and water parks across Europe, including Madrid's Parque Warner
EQT owns 51% of the company, while Corporacion Financiera Alba and Belgian investment fund Groep Brussel Lambert GBLB.BR hold stakes of 25% and 23%, respectively
EQT did not immediately reply to requests for comment. Parques Reunidos said it does not comment on matters relating to its shareholders or on potential transactions
($1 = 0.8791 euros)
(Reporting by Javi West Larrañaga; Editing by Jan Harvey)
((Javier.West@thomsonreuters.com; +34 918 35 61 12;))