In a strategic move, Tristan Capital Partners has finalized the acquisition of EasyHotel, marking a new phase in the budget hotel chain’s development. With the brand’s strong recognition across Europe, the acquisition will bolster EasyHotel’s expansion plans, particularly in France and Spain, as the company aims to accelerate its growth.
A strategic operation
After several month of speculation about which company will acquire EasyHotel, the suspens is finally over. The deal, worth approximately €196.13 million, was made through Tristan Capital’s discretionary fund, European Property Investors Special Opportunities 6.
The acquisition includes 81% of the shares from EasyGroup, including the 17.38% held by founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou. This brings the total valuation of EasyHotel to €242 million.
“Tristan’s funds have established a leading presence in the European budget hotel sector, with this transaction bringing the total committed hotel investments to in excess of €1 billion to date. The budget hotel sector forms a core part of Tristan’s European investment theses, reflecting the firm’s conviction in the long-term growth potential of this under-represented sector.” – Kristian Smyth, Managing Director of Investments at Tristan Capital Partners
EasyHotel, which operates across 13 countries, including the UK, Spain, and Germany, is expected to further expand with several hotels set to open in Spain, including properties in Alicante, Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia.
These new locations will complement the existing hotels in Barcelona and Málaga. Additionally, the company is focusing on low-carbon and environmentally friendly hotel designs.
Transition of ownership and future ambitions
The acquisition marks a shift in ownership from ICAMAP and Ivanhoé Cambridge, who had been the majority shareholders since 2020. Under their guidance, EasyHotel has grown significantly. As part of the new arrangement, EasyGroup will continue to provide the EasyHotel.com brand under license for a reasonable royalty.
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou expressed his satisfaction with the transaction, saying, “We welcome within the easy family of brands Tristan Capital Partners, a highly respected real estate investment specialist as the new owners of EasyHotel. Tristan recognised in their bid that the easy brand values are of vital importance to their future business growth model.”
“Their additional resources and sector expertise will support our expansion at a time when we are seeing a record number of enquiries from potential partners eager to open new EasyHotels.” – Karim Malak, CEO of EasyHotel
Looking ahead
With Tristan Capital’s extensive resources and sector expertise, EasyHotel is poised to expand its footprint in key European markets. The addition of new hotels and increased demand from franchise partners signals positive growth potential for the brand.
As it continues to grow in popularity, EasyHotel’s commitment to providing great value and low-carbon accommodations positions it for long-term success in the competitive budget hotel market.
