Six Flags China

[FParker185]

Gulf Finance House Signs Exclusive Licensing Agreement with Six Flags
Apr 15, 2008 (Al-Bawaba via COMTEX) -- SIX | news | PowerRating | PR
Charts --

Gulf Finance House Signs Exclusive Licensing Agreement with Six Flags-
Agreement brings Six Flags experience to the People's Republic of
China Gulf Finance House, specialist conceiver of innovative economic
infrastructure initiatives has today announced the signing of a one-
year exclusivity agreement with Six Flags, the world's largest
regional theme park company. The new agreement is the latest venture
from Gulf Finance House, designed to capitalize on the huge
anticipated demand for investments in tourism within China.

China is rapidly becoming one of the top tourist destinations for
travelers, and as the host for the 2008 Olympic Games this summer this
is only set grow. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council's
2006 Report on China, the country's travel and tourism industry
generated $353.7 billion in 2006 and is expected to grow to $1.3
trillion in 2016. Given GFH's track record for identifying potential
for above average growth and the delivery of high returns for its
investors, coupled with Six Flags' technical expertise, the initiative
is well placed to deliver exciting results for the regional expansion
of China's tourism. Gulf Finance Acting CEO Peter Panayiotou said
today "we were proud to successfully facilitate the introduction of
Six Flags to Dubai and are delighted to begin another partnership with
Six Flags. The agreement will lead to the development of an exciting,
one of a kind tourist destination in China that is set to draw
travelers from all around the globe. Six Flags is recognized as a
world leader in the entertainment and theme park industry. The
experience and brand loyalty they bring to the partnership is
unparalleled.

"This partnership underscores the potential of our one of a kind
thrill park experience within China and the strength of our brand
globally" said Mark Shapiro, President and CEO of Six Flags. "We're
delighted to be collaborating again with GFH to bring the Six Flags
product to an entirely new audience".

The People's Republic of China Six Flags venture offers a ground-
breaking opportunity for the GFH and Six Flags to create a new
generation of park goers on a truly global stage. The project also
offers the potential for the future collaboration of GFH and Six Flags
to develop a Six Flags themed luxury resort. About Gulf Finance House
Founded in 1999, Gulf Finance House has grown rapidly to become one of
the most respected investment banks in the Middle East region in terms
of the quality and innovation of its product offerings. Over an eight-
year period Gulf Finance House has successfully launched economic
infrastructure development projects and investments with an aggregate
end value exceeding US$20 billion and received numerous awards for its
innovative approach to Islamic banking and finance. Its shares are
actively traded on the London Stock Exchange (GDR), the Kuwait Stock
Exchange, the Bahrain Stock Exchange and the Dubai Financial Market.
2007 was the most successful year in the banks' history, closing with
a net profit of US$340 million, an increase of 61% compared to the
previous year.

Reflecting its international reputation, Gulf Finance House has won
numerous local and international awards, such as "Best Investment
Bank" for three years in a row in 2005, 2006 and 2007, awarded by The
Banker Middle East, "Bank of the Year 2006" awarded by the Arabian
Business Magazine and "Best Islamic Real Estate Finance House" awarded
by Euromoney.

About Six Flags, Inc: Six Flags, Inc. is the world's largest regional
theme park company with 21 parks across the United States, Mexico and
Canada. Founded in 1961, Six Flags has provided world class
entertainment for millions of families with cutting edge, record-
shattering roller coasters and appointment programming with events
like the popular Thursday and Sunday Night Concert Series. Now 47
years strong, Six Flags is recognized as the preeminent thrill
innovator reaching all demographics - families, teens, tweens and
thrill seekers alike - with themed attractions based on the Looney
Tunes characters, the Justice League of America, skateboarding legend
Tony Hawk, The Wiggles and Thomas the Tank Engine. Six Flags, Inc. is
a publicly-traded corporation (NYSE:SIX) headquartered in New York
City.(C) 2008 Al Bawaba (http://www.albawaba.com)

[Coaster Justin]

Wow, sadly my dad doesn't want to go to China. I wonder if this park will have Looney Tunes Or DC Comics as the Dubai one won't.

India and South Korea, your next.

I actually hope this park beats Hong Kong Disneyland.

Take this you Disbelievers that Six Flags will never build a park again.

[cycamps]

I thought that they would build a park again, but never this soon. I thought that they still had financial issues. I was suprised about Dubai also! Nevertheless, I'm interested to see how it turns out, and I wish the best of luck to them!

[rct2wizard360]

As far as I'm concerned, Six Flags isn't building these, sounds more like they are backing them up with another company who's actually building the park.

[Mr. D.T.]

I don't know WHY they continue to build parks and coasters despite their ever-growing defecit. And I thought the current state of our economy was bad enough! Who knows how many Americans will go overseas with $110-a-barrel oil prices?

Speaking of India, China, Hong Kong, and South Korea, I wouldn't mind myself going to ALL those places. I don't know about Dubai, I hear that city is getting built up like crazy. Too commercial. Who knows if Jerusalem will have a Six Flags park built (but please NO Disney). Now THAT's the city I'd like to visit.

[FParker185]

SF isnt actually building these parks, and they arent putting forth one thin dime for these projects. They are actually getting paid for use of the SF name, while other companies are designing, building, operating and maintaining the parks.

Actually not a bad deal for SF.

[Colonel Mustard]

I REPEAT SIX FLAGS IS NOT BUILDING THE PARKS! coughcoasterboycough

They are not buiding the parks. Other Companies are building, owning and operating the park, and Six flags Name will simply be on everything. Which is THE BEST possible overseas deal for this company right now. If only they could do that to a few of our Domestic Operations, Kentucky Kingdom for Example, or America would be good candidates in my opinion.

[Coaster Justin]

I cough-cough-cough heard that Colonal Mustard ^. I know Six Flags isn't building the parks but I'm sure that they are having some involvement in the design of the park. Another Company is Putting the Finance to build the parks.

[FParker185]

Pretty sure they are just selling the SF brand name, and they probably have some sort of quality standards, but I'd highly doubt they are getting involved with anything in the way of design.

[ttd rox]

So SF isn't actually building these? http://www.sixflags.com/national/footerNav/SixFlagsDubailand.aspx It's just some other company? That does surprise me, SixFlags in China. It was coming sooner or later though.

[T.K.]

I wonder what country might be next... Poland? LOL There is no single theme park in Poland, and about 40 million people... LOL

[FParker185]

I think SF is doing more in Dubai than China, but it's still not a heck of a lot.

And Poland has at least one park, was looking into going to Auschwitz during my Euro Trip and in a nearby city there is an Amusement Park, I foget the details, though they have a Top Scan.

[Trailblazer Tony]

Hey, Galvan, should I bring up your bashing about "Six Flags never building outside of the US anytime soon" again like in the Six Flags Dubailand Topic?!

[Jerrykoala2112]

Aw man, I wanted Six Flags to be an American thing.

[cycamps]

^How so? It doesn't really make much of a difference to us if there is a Six Flags park in another country, as long as it is profitable. Otherwise, we could see budget cuts as we are now.

[FParker185]

since 2000 there have been SF parks outside the US. There was Six Flags Holland and Six Flags Belgium, both of which were sold off a few years ago, and there is Six Flags Mexico which is still there.

If you look at the online park map for SFKK, it's from 2002 and it shows SFH and SFB

[Jerrykoala2112]

There is no more Six Flags Holland or Belguim, I dont think they have the one in Mexico either.

[forddude1416]

^ http://www.sixflags.com.mx/

[cowboy1192]

This is really great for the country of China. It really helps them in the process of moving away from communism. Today in school me and my teacher were talking about how the United States is seeing the same signs in China that we saw in Russia when they stepped away from communism, so do be suprised if they arent communist in the next 15-20 years.

But Im really wondering what coasters it will have.

[Luxornv]

Don't forget that Six Flags also bought LaRonde in Canada a few years ago.