Wednesday November 21, 7:45 PM
Lone Star selling Japanese hotel operator: sources
TOKYO (Reuters) - Lone Star has hung a for sale sign over
its Japanese hotel operator Solare Hotels and Resorts Co Ltd,
sources familiar with the matter said, in a deal that could
raise 150 to 200 billion yen ($1.4-1.8 billion) from the deal.
The U.S. investment fund has engaged real estate services
firm Jones Lang LaSalle to handle the sale process on their
behalf.
Blackstone is believed to be among several parties
interested in Solare, the sources said. Lone Star and
Blackstone declined to comment.
Lone Star has two ways to cash out; it has paved the way to
list a hotel REIT (real estate investment trust) which could
include Solare. This would be managed by Star Hotel REIT
Management Co Ltd, which Lone Star has recently set up.
But with the Japanese REIT market under pressure amid the
U.S. subprime mortgage crisis, they may instead seek to sell
Solare to a trade buyer or another fund.
Dallas-based Lone Star took over hotels owned by real
estate developer Chisun Co which filed for bankruptcy
protection in 2002 and created Solare.
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