ICONIC hospitality group, Sun
International, is placing its
bets on Central and South
America, while selling off a
major stake in eight of its
hotels in Southern Africa to
Minor International (MINT), a
hospitality group based in the
Asia Pacific region, to the cost
of R679,5m.
Sun International has
disposed of 50% of its
interests in Zambia and 80%
of its interests in Botswana,
Namibia, Lesotho, and
Swaziland. The agreement
does not affect Sun
International’s properties in
South Africa.
Sun International’s strategy
going forward is to focus
on casino operations and
opportunities, including Latin
America and Asia, while MINT
will handle the hospitality side
of things.
“The proposed transaction
with MINT enables Sun
International to remain
invested in the African assets
but with responsibility for the
casino component only, as
well as to partner with MINT
in other African opportunities
that have a casino element.
In addition, MINT will commit
its pro rata share of new
capital expenditure to realise
the revenue potential of
the African assets, giving
Sun International more
room to consider capital
investment opportunities
elsewhere,” Michael Farr,
Sun International’s group
gm of Corporate Brand and
Communications, told TNW.
“Starting with the existing
African assets involved, it is
the intention of the alliance
to explore other hotel and
gaming opportunities, in
particular those that may
arise in Africa and Asia,
where MINT would manage
the hotel component and Sun
International would manage
the casino component.”
The affected properties
include the Royal Livingstone
and Zambezi Sun in Zambia;
Gaborone Sun Botswana in
Botswana; Kalahari Sands in
Namibia; Lesotho Sun and
Maseru Sun in Lesotho; and
Swaziland’s Royal Swazi and
Ezulwini Sun. These, with
the exception of the Royal
Livingstone, will be rebranded
as either Anantara or AVANI.
Meanwhile, Sun International
is putting its money on Latin
America. “We have our very
successful operation in Chile,
Monticello Grand Casino. We
are opening in Panama in
the next few weeks – Ocean
Club Casino in partnership
with Trump, and we have
just been granted a licence
to operate in Cartagena,
Colombia,” Michael says.
Minor goes major
The proposed transaction
fits with MINT’s expansion
plans in Africa, where MINT
currently owns eight luxury
game lodges and resorts in
Kenya and Tanzania under the
Elewana Collection, and five
hotel projects in Mozambique.
Late last year, the Minor
Hotel Group announced its
partnership with Rani Resorts.
The two companies formed a
joint venture for five of Rani’s
Mozambican resorts, which
are being re-branded.
“Over the past few years,
MINT has strategically
expanded its hospitality
business into many regions,
and Africa is one of the
continents where MINT saw
substantial growth potential.
MINT is excited by this
latest acquisition which will
augment its growth strategy
in Africa and will further
introduce our Anantara and
AVANI brands in the region,”
says William Heinecke,
chairman and group ceo
of MINT.
The only African property
outside of South Africa
owned by Sun International
and not part of the proposed
transaction is the Federal
Palace in Lagos, Nigeria,
where Sun International
and MINT are discussing a
possible investment by MINT.
MINT is a hotel owner,
operator and investor with
a portfolio of 110 hotels
and serviced suites under
the Anantara, AVANI, Oaks,
Per AQUUM, Elewana, Four
Seasons, St. Regis, Marriott,
Radisson Blu and Minor
International brands.
It has hotels in Thailand,
Australia, New Zealand,
Maldives, Vietnam, the
Middle East, Sri Lanka,
China, Malaysia, Indonesia,
Cambodia, Tanzania, Kenya,
and Mozambique.
