In Italy it could be the deal of the year. Only comparable to the acquisition of Belmond by LVMH in 2019, which involved numerous Italian properties. According to the daily Il Sole 24 Ore, Unipol has allegedly given Goldman Sachs a mandate to invite a select group of bidders to tender for the sale of the Una Group. For some insiders the operation had been in the air for a year or so, but now it seems to be taking shape, with Unipol expecting to make around €1 billion from the sale.
In the next few days non-binding expressions of interest for the first round of offers are expected. Among the names doing the rounds are the US Blackstone, already present on the Italian hotel svene through its partnership with Mangia's through the Spanish company Hip, which however is itself on the market. Other names are Starwood Capital and Sixth Street, owner since 2022 of Le Palme on the Costa Smeralda which is soon to be branded Rocco Forte. Also taking part in the comings and goings could be the British company Aermont, which a couple of years ago took control of the Pellicano Group, and has ambitious development projects in Italy, which at the moment have only resulted in the purchase of the Tuscan La Suvera.
The origins of Gruppo Una are essentially rooted in the operation that led Unipol to get its hands on the Ligresti family's galaxy, including the Atahotels brand, which later merged with Una Hotels. From the start, however, it was clear that the insurance company's focus was on Fondiaria Sai rather than the hotel operator, so much so that rumours swirled about a possible sale of the hotel division. Then, thanks in part to the management of Fabrizio Gaggio (now at Starhotels, Ed.), things began to improve, with the company gradually seeing its accounts move into the black. Then, but perhaps also due to a lack of buyers in the initial stage, talk of Una being put up for sale gradually died down. At least until today.
The group currently owns just over twenty properties, in addition to fifteen hotels under lease-management, plus others under franchising for a grand total of 55. A somewhat heterogeneous portfolio in terms of characteristics and geographical location.
Massimiliano Sarti
Journalist
