USJ may go private with Goldman help-sources

TOKYO, Jan 13 (Reuters) - USJ Co Ltd (2142.T), the operator of the Universal Studios Japan theme park, is considering going private in a buyout led by Goldman Sachs (GS.N), five people familiar with the matter said.

USJ, which was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in March 2007, has a market value of about $800 million. It is 41 percent owned by Crane Holdings Ltd, an investment arm of Goldman Sachs.

Goldman is looking for investors to join a bid for the company, the people said, asking not to be identified as the deal has not been completed.

Johta Takahashi, a spokesman for USJ, said the company has not made any decision to go private. The theme park is located in Osaka, western Japan. (Reporting by Stephen Aldred, Wakako Sato, Emi Emoto and Taro Fuse) ($1=89.40 Yen)