New York’s Plaza Hotel to go to Indian group

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India’s Sahara Group is set to purchase a controlling stake in New York’s Plaza Hotel for $570 million.

The 105-year-old luxury hotel overlooking Central Park in New York is currently owned by Israeli tycoon Yitzhak Tshuva and Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.

Tshuva will receive $400 million for its 60 percent stake while Talal will receive a smaller amount and retain a 25 percent stake.

The agreement only includes the hotel and commercial spaces; Tschuva will retain ownership of the luxury apartments, known as the Plaza Pied-a-terre condominium, which occupy a different part of the same building.

The iconic hotel was bought by Tshuva in 2004 for $675 million. According to media reports, the sale of the apartments alone netted Tshuva $500 million in profit.

The Indian group, owner of assets ranging from TV channels to real estate, recently acquired the iconic Grosvenor House in London’s Mayfair district for $726 million from the Royal Bank of Scotland.

According to a report by Business Standard, the group is looking into acquiring all of Marriott’s hotels in the UK and is also eyeing up properties in France.

The iconic 20-story Plaza hotel provides 282 guest rooms, including 102 luxury suites as well as a champagne bar and a number of restaurants.

The hotel will continue to be operated by Fairmont Hotel & Resorts Inc, which has of managed the property since 1999.