US hotel chain looking to spin off its real estate

New York

NORTH American budget hotel chain La Quinta Holdings Inc is preparing to explore a sale of the company, hoping for a high valuation as it seeks to spin off its real estate assets, people familiar with the matter said on Monday.

La Quinta believes proceeds from the potential sale would help make the tax hit it will incur as a result of the spin-off more palatable to shareholders, the sources said. It plans to place its real estate business into a publicly listed real estate investment trust, and keep its franchise and management operations.