Belgian brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI.BT) Wednesday said it will sell its theme parks business to private-equity firm Blackstone Group for up to $2.7 billion.

The deal will help AB InBev pay down the $45 billion in debt it took on to buy Anheuser Busch last year. It has been long rumored that AB InBev wanted to sell the theme parts, which were owned by Anheuser, but had held off because the collapse of credit markets made private equity buyers such as Blackstone and even corporate buyers unable to raise financing for deals.

AB InBev will receive $2.3 billion in cash and the right to participate in the first $400 million of Blackstone's return on investment. The subsidiary, Busch Entertainment Corporation, operates 10 entertainment parks in the U.S., including three SeaWorld parks.

J.P. Morgan (JPM) and Lazard Ltd. (LAZ) advised AB InBev on the deal.

-By Matthew Dalton, Dow Jones Newswires; +32 2 741 1487; matthew.dalton@dowjones.com