AccorHotels bids for Australia's Mantra

[SYDNEY] France's AccorHotels has made a A$1.17 billion (S$1.244 billion) bid for one of Australia's biggest hotel operators, the Mantra Group, the local company said Monday in a move that sent its share price soaring.

Mantra, which operates more than 20,000 rooms in Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia, said it had received an offer of A$3.96 cash per share, valuing the firm at A$1.17 billion.

"Mantra has granted Accor access to due diligence to determine if a transaction can be agreed and recommended unanimously by the Mantra board," the Australian-listed company said in a statement.

"The discussions are incomplete and any entry by the parties into binding transaction documents remains subject to a number of conditions."

The conditions include regulatory approval and support for the proposal by the firms' boards.

Shares in Mantra jumped 16.87 per cent to A$3.78 in afternoon trade.

The Australian company operates a variety of properties, from resorts to serviced apartments under three brands - Peppers, Mantra and BreakFree - and has more than 5,500 staff.

Mantra in August reported net profit after tax of A$45.6 million for the year to June 30, a 22.7 per cent increase from the previous corresponding period.

AccorHotels includes the Sofitel, Pullman, Novotel, Mercure and Ibis chains. It operates 4,200 hotels with 600,000 rooms worldwide.

AFP