Creating a Global Luxury Hotel Chain

question 108

Essay

Creating a Global Luxury Hotel Chain

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc. announced on January 30, 2006, that it had agreed to be acquired by Kingdom Hotels and Colony Capital in an all-cash transaction valued at $45 per share. The transaction is valued at $3.9 billion, including assumed debt. The purchase price represents a 28% premium over Fairmont's closing price on November 4, 2005, the last day of trading when Kingdom and Colony expressed interest in Fairmont. The combination of Fairmont and Kingdom will create a luxury global hotel chain with 120 hotels in 24 countries. Discounted cash-flow analyses, including estimated synergies and terminal value, value the firm at $43.10 per share. The net asset value of Fairmont's real estate is believed to be $46.70 per share.
-Is it reasonable to assume that the acquirer could actually be getting the operation for "free," since the value of the real estate per share is worth more than the purchase price per share? Explain your answer.

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