MHP co-invests in the future Marriott Hotel Basel
Even before its planned stock exchange listing, Munich Hotel Partners GmbH (MHP), one of Germany’s leading hotel groups, has realized an important growth step. Together with the US private equity company H.I.G Capital, MHP acquired a hotel property in Basel and concluded a long-term management contract for the hotel operation as part of the joint venture. The former Swissôtel Basel will become the “Marriott Hotel Basel” in the future.
By acquiring a minority stake in the property, MHP is entering its first co-investment in the hotel real estate market. The company is thus expanding its business model. Initially, MHP focused on managing hotels owned by well-known institutional investors and acts as a franchise partner of Marriott International, the world’s largest hotel company. The rebranding to the premium Marriott Hotels brand will follow extensive renovations in the coming months.
In a prime location in Basel between the Badischer Bahnhof train station and the historic Old Town, the hotel opened in 1984 and has 238 rooms. The former hotel has been closed since November 2020. The parties agreed not to disclose the financial details of the acquisition.
“We consider the future Marriott Hotel Basel to be a jewel. Together with H.I.G, we will invest several million Swiss francs in the modernization of the hotel as part of the brand change to reposition it on the local and international hotel market under a franchise agreement with Marriott International,” commented MHP managing director Dr. Jörg Frehse.
“Despite the challenges posed by Corona, our hotel group is in an excellent operational and financial position to expand, especially in the premium segment,” adds MHP Managing Director Ralf Selke. “In addition to continuing our previous growth in partnership with institutional hotel investors, we also want to become more involved in the hotel real estate market through co-investments in the future.”
The transaction is part of MHP’s defined expansion strategy, which is supported and secured on the capital side by the company’s planned stock market listing. As announced on June 9, 2021, it is planned to contribute all shares in MHP GmbH to Lifespot Capital AG, Munich, which is already listed on the Munich Open Market. According to the plans, this reverse IPO is to be completed by the end of this year.
MHP was advised on the acquisition of the Basler Hotel by the law firms GSK Stockmann, Munich and Luxembourg, and Sailler von Dall’Armi Pöschl & Partner Wirtschaftsprüfer Steuerberater Rechtsanwälte, Munich and Zurich, in partnership with the law firm HütteLAW Advokatur und Notariat, Zug.
About MHP
The MHP Group is one of the leading German hotel providers and has established itself in acquiring existing premium hotels. MHP currently operates four Le Méridien brand hotels in Germany and Austria in Hamburg, Stuttgart, Munich and Vienna, as well as the Sheraton Düsseldorf Airport Hotel. All hotels are operated under franchise agreements with Marriott, the world’s largest hotel group.