Hong Kong Disneyland, a theme park owned by Walt Disney Co and Hong Kong's government, may need to seek other sources to fund its operations after failing to meet performance targets set by its lenders.

 

On March 31 and September 30, the park missed the targets, which relate to a US$294 million loan and a line of credit that hasn't been used, Walt Disney said in a filing on Wednesday with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Neither the names of the banks nor the performance goals were disclosed.

 

Hong Kong Disneyland may require other sources of financing to meet operating and development needs should the company fail to meet the targets when they are measured again this September, the company said.

 

Lower attendance and guest spending at the Hong Kong park during the first quarter of 2007 "partially offset" increased revenue at the company's Paris theme park, Disney reported, according to Bloomberg News. The Hong Kong park drew 5.2 million visitors in the 12 months following its September 2005 opening, fewer than the 5.6 million forecast. Disney holds 43 percent of Hong Kong International Theme Parks Ltd, which owns the facility.

 

(Shanghai Daily May 11, 2007)