Falcon’s Beyond Global acquires Oceaneering division

[Disney4me]

Falcon’s Beyond Global, an attractions and experiences developer, has completed the purchase of Oceaneering Entertainment Systems, a designer of ride systems.

Both businesses are based in Orlando and have been in operation for more than two decades.

“We started our companies almost simultaneously. We opened our doors in downtown Windermere more than 25 years ago,” said Cecil D. Magpuri, CEO and co-founder of Falcon’s Beyond. Collaboration with OES began within months, he said.

“We had this opportunity to now leverage 25 years of history of Oceaneering Entertainment Systems and their capabilities of creating some of the most profound and innovative attractions to be now merged into Falcon’s Beyond and our specific division of Falcon’s Attractions of which we’re known for developing attractions ourselves as well,” Magpuri said.

“This has basically boosted and accelerated that growth of our Falcon’s Attractions division and expanded its reach with client base and capabilities,” he said.

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OES has developed technology used in award-winning rides including the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man and Transformers: The Ride 3D at Universal Orlando and the Shuttle Launch Experience at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. It was a division of Houston-based Oceaneering International.

Falcon’s purchase includes patented technologies, proprietary engineering and manufacturing processes of OES as well as a 106,000-square-foot facility that will be used for research, development and testing.

Financial terms of the purchase have not been announced. The potential of a deal was announced during IAAPA Expo in November. The acquisition moves 29 employees from Oceaneering into the Falcon’s fold, which includes more than 200 people in Orlando.

“I think what we’re most excited about is what gets unlocked by bringing these two superpowers together,” said Dave Mauck, president of Falcon’s Attractions and former vice president and general manager of OES.

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Falcon’s will provide support for all existing OES products, ensuring continuity with the same personnel and technology that had been provided by OES.

Business units of Falcon’s Beyond concentrate on content, technology and experience, developing master plans, location-based entertainment, movies, merchandising, gaming and immersive rides.

While some companies develop attractions in-house, that’s not always an option, Mauck said.

“They don’t have the time to onboard the people or to put 20 years of experience under the belt,” he said. “This is a way that they could activate big visions and hire this capability in from the outside rather than develop it within.”

dbevil@orlandosentinel.com

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