Martin Strydom

Merlin, which owns Alton Towers, recommended that investors accept the offer of 455p per share, a 37 per cent premium on the share price last monthAlamy

The owner of Madame Tussauds and Alton Towers has agreed a near £6 billion takeover offer from a consortium led by the billionaire Danish family that controls the toymaker Lego.

Merlin Entertainments has recommended that investors accept the 455p-a-share cash offer.

Kirkbi, the investment vehicle of Kirk Kristiansen family which owns the Lego brand, has had a 29.5 per cent stake in the theme park operator since the sale of Legoland Parks to Merlin in 2005. Its stake will rise to 50 per cent after deal.

The others in the consortium, the private equity group Blackstone and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, will control the rest. Kirkbi and Blackstone jointly controlled Merlin in the eight years leading up to the 2013 listing.

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