China's HNA Explores Sale of Radisson Hotel Group

(Bloomberg) -- HNA Group Co., the Chinese conglomerate selling assets to pay down debt, is exploring a sale of Radisson Hotel Group, according to people familiar with the matter.

HNA has been gauging interest from rival hotel chains and other potential buyers of the Minneapolis-based company, said the people, who asked to not be identified because the matter isn't public. There is no certainty the talks will lead to a sale, they said.

"While it has been widely reported that HNA has recently been exploring the sale of some of its assets, we are in a very strong place with our business and remain committed to our go-forward strategy," John Kidd, chief executive of Radisson's operations in the Americas and Asia Pacific., said in a statement. "Any additional questions about a potential sale would need to be answered by HNA.”

A representative for HNA declined to comment.

HNA has been aggressively selling assets this year to pay down heavy debt incurred during a multi-year buying spree. It agreed to sell a Minneapolis office tower for $320 million to Samsung Group, people familiar with the matter said earlier this month. It has also sold down stakes in Deutsche Bank AG and Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.

HNA brings Radisson to market as hotel operators benefit from a strong global economy and a growing appetite for travel among middle class people across the world. The travel and tourism sector grew 4.6 percent in 2017, outpacing the growth of the global economy by 50 percent, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.

HNA acquired Radisson in 2016, when it was called Carlson Hotels.

Today, the chain operates or has under development more than 1,400 hotels around the world under eight brands, including Radisson, Park Plaza and Country Inn & Suites, according its website.

It also owns a controlling stake in Radisson Hospitality AB, the Brussels-based operator of hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa with a market value of about $541 million.

A representative for Radisson Hospitality AB declined to comment.

--With assistance from Manuel Baigorri, Gillian Tan and Patrick Clark.

To contact Bloomberg News staff for this story: Carol Zhong in Hong Kong at yzhong71@bloomberg.net;Steven Yang in Beijing at kyang74@bloomberg.net;Sharon Smyth in London at ssmyth2@bloomberg.net;Prudence Ho in Hong Kong at pho83@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Ben Scent at bscent@bloomberg.net, Matthew Monks

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