U.S. investment fund Ripplewood Holdings LLC expressed interest Wednesday in investing in the failed Huis Ten Bosch theme park in Nagasaki Prefecture. Ripplewood President Timothy Collins said in an interview with Kyodo News that such an investment might present a good business opportunity as his firm already owns the Seagaia resort complex in nearby Miyazaki Prefecture.
"I think our instincts are that there could be tremendous energy combining with Seagaia and creating a kernel of our original entertainment and tourism activity," Collins said. "We just need to learn more, and hopefully we will have a chance to take a look at a player's role if they want us to."
Huis Ten Bosch Co., the operator of the theme park, filed for bankruptcy in late February and is looking for a buyer.
Ripplewood purchased Seagaia in 2001 after the resort operator, Phoenix Resort Ltd., filed for court protection from creditors.
Ripplewood has purchased various Japanese assets, including the former Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan, now Shinsei Bank, and the former Nippon Columbia Co., now Columbia Music Entertainment Inc.
The firm is also in talks with Japan Telecom Holdings Co., a unit of British wireless giant Vodafone Group PLC, over the sale of Japan Telecom's fixed-line subsidiary.