Bidco acquires remaining stake in Mandarin Oriental for $4.2 billion

Today, October 17, Jardine Matheson (JARD.SI) announced a proposal to privatize the remaining 11.96% of Mandarin Oriental, bringing the company’s total valuation to about US$4.2 billion. Founded in 1832, JM remains one of Asia’s most influential investment groups. The proposal is the largest real estate #transaction in Hong Kong this year and the largest hotel industry transaction in Hong Kong since the start of the covid pandemic. (!!) "The Jardine Matheson Board considers full private ownership as beneficial for both Mandarin Oriental and Jardine Matheson. Privatization of Mandarin Oriental would simplify Jardine Matheson’s existing corporate structure, while better supporting Mandarin Oriental in achieving its growth objectives" as stated in the stock exchange filing on October 17.

Hong Kong-based conglomerate Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd. said Friday it will acquire the remaining 11.96% of Mandarin Oriental International Ltd. that it does not already own, valuing the luxury hotel operator at about $4.2 billion. https://lnkd.in/eEWGuWPw

Beyond Blame: Rethinking Singapore’s Retail and F&B Challenges The closures of food and beverage outlets in Singapore have often been framed around rising rents, manpower shortages, and regulatory costs. While these are real pressures, they are not unique. Every business, from a heritage coffee stall to a global chain, operates under the same basic equation: Profit = Revenue – Expense. Why, then, do some thrive while others sink? What is missing in much of the public discourse is self-examination. Few failing businesses openly ask: Was our service consistent? Did our food quality slip? Did we adapt to changing demographics and tastes? Instead, the instinct is to externalise blame—on landlords, government policy, or consumer behaviour. This blame culture is comforting, but it risks masking the deeper truth: sustainability comes from relevance and value. For example, while some heritage brands have shuttered, others reinvented themselves—modernising menus, upgrading ambience, or leaning into delivery and digital engagement. Chains like Ya Kun and Old Chang Kee succeeded not because rents were kinder to them, but because they found ways to resonate with today’s consumers while honouring tradition. To move forward, we must encourage businesses to ask hard questions: • Are customers returning because of genuine satisfaction, or only nostalgia? • Is service attentive, or perfunctory? • Are menus refreshed to meet evolving dietary preferences? • Have operations embraced technology to offset manpower limits? Equally, industry bodies and policymakers can foster a culture of learning and adaptation rather than lamentation. Sharing case studies of transformation, providing support for digitalisation, and celebrating innovation—not just survival—will nudge the ecosystem towards growth. Singapore’s retail and F&B story does not have to be one of decline. If businesses shift from blaming external pressures to reflecting on how they deliver relevance, quality, and joy, then challenges like rent become hurdles—not excuses. The key is not avoiding expenses, but creating experiences that customers willingly pay for. Omni Integra Singapore Retailers Association SCCCI Association of Small & Medium Enterprises https://lnkd.in/gnmBCYQ4

Mandarin Oriental to go private with $4.2 billion valuation. Jardine Matheson, via division Bidco, to acquire final 11.96% of hotel group https://lnkd.in/eZwWNxht

On 17th October 2025, Jardine Matheson announced a proposal to privatize Mandarin Oriental and to acquire all remaining shares not already held by Jardine Matheson (the “Proposal”), valuing Mandarin Oriental at around US$4.3Bn.   The Proposal is the largest real estate transaction in Hong Kong year-to-date and the largest hotels and lodging transaction in Hong Kong since 2020. Morgan Stanley Asia Limited acted as sole financial advisor to the Transaction Committee of the Board of Mandarin Oriental.   #MorganStanleyVoices

🚨 European Hotel Investment Recap – September 2025 📌 September underlined two market realities: trophy assets continue to break records, while domestic platforms and PE-backed groups quietly reshape the mid- and upper-market landscape. On top, sovereign and government-backed investors are stepping into hospitality and tourism as a strategic sector. 💥 Deal of the Month? Family Arnault’s €200M acquisition of Hôtel Cap Estel (French Riviera) via Financière Agache – ~€10M per key for just 20 rooms. A rare ultra-luxury trophy deal, held privately and outside the LVMH portfolio. 🔍 Trends? → Ultra-luxury assets remain safe havens, attracting long-term private capital → PE accelerates boutique hotel platforms (Bain Capital invests in Les Hôtels de Paris) → Domestic consolidation picks up (Grupo Hotusa acquires 9 Silken hotels in Spain for €250M) → Government-backed capital enters the game (Omran acquires 1.4% stake in TUI & JV for Oman pipeline) → Single-asset and mid-market deals in Germany, UK, and NL add depth to the deal flow 📌 Notable transactions: 🇩🇪 Steigenberger Berlin → PGIM (n.d.) 🇩🇪 Park Plaza Wallstreet Berlin → BWB (€36M) 🇩🇪 Keystone Portfolio → Event Hotels (n.d.) 🇳🇱 Avani MQ Amsterdam → Pontegadea (€85M) 🇬🇧 Novotel London West → Deva Capital (£160M) 💬 From Riviera trophy icons to domestic consolidation and sovereign-backed ventures, September showed the breadth of capital at play in European hospitality. Whether you’re focused on strategic platforms, long-term holds, or value-add opportunities – Gianni Brugger and I, alongside our team at mrp hotels, are here to support you. #hospitality #hotelinvestment #hoteldeals #assetmanagement #europeanhospitality #hotelrealestate #transactions #mrphotels

Singapore-based hospitality firm Ascott has accelerated its European growth by partnering with real estate developers in Vienna and Seville, expanding its portfolio through lyf, Somerset, and the Unlimited Collection brands while upgrading key Citadines properties. #IndiaOutbound #IndiaOutboundMagazine The Ascott Limited CapitaLand Investment (CLI) Kevin Goh VIE TRUST Capital Group GmbH Ngok Wai, Ngor Houai LEE Read Here: https://lnkd.in/dqbgwx4T

From Café Darling to Cautionary Tale An important post from Admond Lee on Prive’s sudden fall from grace. This was exactly what I wrote about in my earlier post on 1881: nostalgia and brand love can’t protect a business with fragile economics. 💡 Lessons for all of us: •💰 Beloved brands still need bulletproof unit economics •🏗️ Prime locations can turn into liabilities overnight •⚡ Growth without flexibility becomes fragility Legacy and love aren’t enough — bad math kills good brands. For founders and investors, this is a wake-up call: Build for resilience, not just recognition. Build for margins, not just memories. #Privé #1881 #BusinessLessons #MarginsMatter #Resilience #Singapore #BrandStrategy #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #UnitEconomics #GrowthStrategy Kairos Capital Group Kairos Capital Partners Progress Asia Capital & Advisors Clarisse Yap Taufiq Iskandar Terence Siau Evangelyn Siau

Singapore is a single city economy with limited geography and demography compared to its economic size and growth which ultimately results now in slowing down of Singapore's economy affecting various business sectors That's why I have been proposing the "ASEAN-IZATION" of Singapore's economy.

Swiss hospitality market heats up as Gasthaus Degen News Today highlights rising acquisitions, shaping industry growth and investor confidence in Switzerland’s booming hotel and restaurant sector. #GasthausDegen #HospitalityNews #SwissMarket #BusinessUpdates https://lnkd.in/dNBfM-Rt