Case Study – Acquisition of an Internationally Renowned Hotel (Buy-side Advisory)

Advising Van der Valk on a strategic hotel acquisition

In the intended acquisition of a highly renowned hotel, Navarre Corporate Finance supported Van der Valk throughout the full buy-side process: from strategic positioning and valuation analysis to bid structuring and negotiations. Although the submitted offer was ultimately not accepted by the seller, all key steps required to complete the transaction were successfully executed.

Below is an overview of four core areas in which Navarre added value.

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Strategic positioning of the acquisition

In hotel transactions, value creation starts with strategy rather than price.

Navarre worked closely with the client to define:

Fit within Van der Valk’s long-term portfolio strategy.

The operational synergies in the existing network.

Positioning opportunities in terms of operations, branding and returns.

Alternative scenarios in case the transaction would not proceed.

This created a clear investment framework guiding the bidding process.

Valuation analysis and bidding strategy

Iconic hotel assets often create tension between emotional value and financial discipline. This is where an experienced advisor adds the most value.

Navarre supported:

Analysis of operating potential and normalized EBITDA.

Benchmarking against comparable hotel transactions.

Assessment of the real estate component versus operating business value.

Structuring a realistic yet competitive bidding range.

This resulted in a well-substantiated offer that was both strategically sound and financially disciplined.

Process & interaction with seller

For high-profile assets, process dynamics are at least as important as price.

Navarre provided:

Coordination of information flows toward the client.

Structuring of Q&A rounds and additional analyses.

Alignment with external advisors (legal, tax, technical).

Preparation of management interaction and positioning toward the seller.

This ensured the process remained structured, professional and momentum-driven.

Support during bid execution

During the bidding phase, the advisor’s role shifts from analyst to negotiation partner.

Navarre coordinated:

Formulation of bid conditions.

Structuring of reservations and transaction safeguards.

Assessment of competitive tension in the process.

Strategic timing of next steps.

Although the offer was ultimately not accepted, a fully developed and consistent transaction proposal was delivered, aligned with both the strategic ambitions and financial framework of the client.

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