Mexican Hotel Readies IPO

Mexico’s new ECM issuance pipeline is filling up rapidly, with Hoteles City preparing to become the latest Mexican to IPO. The operator of hotel chains including City Suites and City Express is planning a sale of primary and secondary shares in the US and international markets, according to a prospectus. The size and exact timing remain to be determined, though the documents suggest a June pricing at the soonest. Secondary share sellers include founders and company officials, as well as investors including Wamex the IFC and the IDB. Proceeds from the primary portion will be used for expansion. Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Citi and Morgan Stanley are managing the sale, joined by Actinver on the domestic tranche. Founded in 2003, City claims to have grown at an average of 34% per year since, reaching 71 hotels throughout Mexico at the end of last year, to make it Mexico’s third-largest operator. It booked MXP932m ($75m) revenue in 2012, up from MXP715m in 2011. City joins follow-ons from Inbursa and Fibra Hotel in Mexico’s ECM pipeline.