Copacabana Palace Hotel - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Indian Hotels, controlled by the Tata Group conglomerate, made an unsolicited USD$1.2 billion bid for luxury hotels group Orient-Express Hotels, sending the US-listed company's shares surging.
Indian Hotels, which said it was rebuffed by Orient-Express in a recent approach to take a "significant" stake in the company, on Thursday offered USD$12.63 per Orient-Express share, a 40 percent premium to the stock's closing price on Wednesday.
Orient-Express turned down an offer in 2007 from Indian Hotels to form a strategic alliance. That year, Indian Hotels acquired a 10 percent stake in Orient-Express for about USD$211.3 million. It now owns about 7 percent.
"Indian Hotels is seeking friendly transaction negotiations and is prepared to devote all necessary resources to mutually beneficial agreement," Indian Hotels said in a statement.
If it succeeds, the deal would be among the largest overseas deals from an Indian company. It is a rare example of a hostile bid by an Indian firm.
Orient-Express stock closed 22.5 percent higher at USD$11.05 on the New York Stock Exchange.
Under the proposed deal, Italian group Charme II Fund, managed by Montezemolo and Partners, would invest USD$100 million for a minority stake in the newly combined group.
Indian Hotels would contribute USD$650 million in cash while the rest would be funded by other Tata group entities and debt from Bank of America, ICICI Bank and Standard Chartered Bank.
Indian Hotels would also assume Orient-Express debt, which stood at USD$529.5 million at June 30.
The steel-to-software Tata conglomerate is India's biggest business house and has been acquisitive in recent years. Its Tata Motors made one of India's signature overseas deals when it paid USD$2.3 billion in 2008 for British luxury car maker Jaguar Land Rover.
CLOSER ALLIANCE
Indian Hotels met executives of Orient-Express in August to discuss "a closer alliance" between the two companies, according to a letter from Indian Hotels Vice Chairman R.K. Krishna Kumar that was included in a company filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on October 18.
Orient-Express directors turned down the offer for a significant equity investment, according to the letter.
"We believe this offer is in the best interests of Orient-Express Hotels and its shareholders, and deserves careful consideration by your Board of Directors," the letter said.
"We believe this premium cash offer represents a compelling value proposition for the Company shareholders, especially in light of the current fragile state of the global economy and the lack of clarity about the prospects for recovery," it said.
The euro zone economic crisis has squeezed demand for luxury travel, and the weakening of the euro and other currencies against the dollar has crimped revenue at Orient-Express, which has been divesting non-core assets to help reduce debt, increase liquidity and invest in core assets.
Under the proposed transaction, Orient-Express would remain an independent company with an independent management team.
Christopher Agnew, an analyst with MKM Partners, said Orient-Express has a dual-class share structure that he thinks would prevent Indian Hotels from making a hostile takeover. He said there could be a back-and-forth between buyer and seller, with the seller looking to get a higher price.
"This company does have a stake already, so it has shown interest before," Agnew said. "Orient-Express has high quality assets around the world which arguably are trading below their intrinsic value. So from that perspective, is it that surprising that someone wants to look at the business?"
Indian Hotels has 99 hotels in 56 locations across India and 16 international hotels including the Pierre Hotel in New York.
Orient-Express owns or part-owns and manages 46 luxury hotels, restaurants, tourist trains and river cruise properties in 23 countries.
