British Fund Signal Capital Partners Offers €30M+ for Duro Felguera’s HQ

7 February 2018 – Eje Prime

The sale of the headquarters of Duro Felguera in Madrid could be on the verge of being signed. The Asturian company has received an offer for more than €30 million from the British investment fund Signal Capital Partners. And the company has already requested a due diligence, according to El Economista.

Before Signal, the Duro Felguera building, located at number 7 Calle Vía de los Poblados in the Spanish capital, had been courted by two other interested parties: Banco Sabadell and Sandra Ortega, one of the daughters of the Inditex founder.

Two months ago, the Spanish bank offered €33 million for the building, but it seems that neither its bid nor the €38 million that Sandra Ortega (…) placed on the table convinced the Asturian group. In the case of Ortega, the economic proposal was accompanied by one condition: the rental of the asset for ten years, at a price of €2 million per year and a seven-year deposit, according to Vozpopuli.

Duro Felguera, which is on the brink of filing for creditors’ bankruptcy, has until 15 April to reach an agreement with the banks to restructure its debt, which exceeds €900 million. For that reason, the company is particularly keen to complete the sale of this asset.

If the fund reaches an agreement, it would represent Signal Capital Partners’ second operation in Spain. In 2017, it took part in the purchase and remodelling of Aparthotel Orquidea, an establishment located in Ibiza, with a surface area of 12,000 m2 and 198 rooms.

Original story: Eje Prime

Translation: Carmel Drake

Sabadell Offers €33M for Duro Felguera’s HQ in Madrid

20 November 2017 – Eje Prime

Sabadell may complete the purchase of a new asset very soon. The financial institution is close to signing the acquisition of the headquarters of the company Duro Felguera for €33 million. The Asturian company, which is fighting hard to avoid having to file for creditor bankruptcy, would raise liquidity for its internal battle as a result of the agreement.

Interestingly, Duro Felguera must have rejected an offer amounting to €38 million from Sandra Ortega, the daughter of the founder and President of Inditex, Amancio Ortega. According to Voz Populi, although she was offering a higher financial proposal, she was also imposing the condition that the company remain as the tenant of the property for ten years, in return for a price of €2 million per year and a seven-year deposit.

By contrast, Sabadell is offering €33 million without any requirement for the company to remain in the building or to pay any deposits, which means that Duro Felguera would see a cash inflow of between €10 million and €15 million after paying off its loan.

Original story: Eje Prime

Translation: Carmel Drake

Sarasola Increases Stake In Room Mate To 70%

7 July 2016 – Expansión

The President of Room Mate, Enrique Sarasola, has purchased an additional 20% stake in the hotel chain that he founded in 2003, allowing him to take control of 70% of the share capital. The remaining 30% is held by Sandra Ortega, through the company Rosp Corunna.

Specifically, Sarasola has signed a contract, through his company Tafay 2000, to acquire the 14% stake controlled by Basphon Investment and the 6% stake held by Berbaz Familiar. Basphon Investment, a company owned by Pedro Agustín del Castillo, President of Binter Canarias, acquired its stake in Room Mate in 2009; meanwhile Berbaz Familiar, an investment vehicle owned by the Sanzol family, has been a shareholder since 2004.

This change allows the company to address its business plan for 2015-2019 with a more stable shareholder base, who are more focused on the “day to day” running of the company, explains Sarasola. The President of Room Mate and Bemate.com says that Basphon and Berbaz were “more financial” investors, who have identified an opportunity to exit the company and achieve a good return.

Forecasts

The Director considers that this movement is yet another example of his confidence in the company and he highlights the results achieved in recent years. Based on the company’s forecasts, Room Mate will close 2016 with a turnover of €68.3 million, which represents an increase of 22% with respect to 2015. The hotel chain generated revenues of €25.7 million during the first five months of the year, 48% more than in 2015.

Room Mate’s hotels recorded an average occupancy rate of 85.8% during the five months to May 2016, whilst its RevPar (revenues per available room) amounted to €127.30, 13.3% higher than during the same period last year.

Room Mate Hotels owns more than 1,500 rooms, has a presence in six countries and twelve cities and will open eight new hotels over the next ten months. In 2016, 65% of Room Mate’s revenues will be generated overseas.

Sarasola predicts that this summer will “break all records” and he highlights the strong performance of domestic tourism. In any case, the Director emphasises the need (for Spain) to form a new Government and he expressed his “concern regarding the Ministry of Tourism because since the Minister left, it has not been operating with the necessary degree of transparency”.

Original story: Expansión (by Rebeca Arroyo)

Translation: Carmel Drake