Hilton Hotels: A Case Study in Real Estate Private Equity

Abstract

On December 13, 2013, two days after its IPO, Hilton hotels traded above $22 a share. This meant that the 2007 take-private transaction of Blackstone had produced the largest gain ever in private equity at about $10 billion. In addition, Hilton had become the largest hotel group in the world by number of rooms up from 4th position 6 years previously, when Blackstone bought the company. How can such success occur with a cyclical business during the worst financial crisis since 1929-1933? Somebody definitely deserves a big box of chocolates; but who? The answer is surprising and offers a detailed insight into the life-cycle of real estate private equity transactions.