AMERICAN chain Hilton Hotels Corporation is rumoured to be preparing a reverse takeover bid for UK firm Hilton Group.
The company refused to comment on the speculation that Hilton Hotels Corporation president and chief executive Steve Bollenbach was putting the deal together.
The move could involve Hilton Group’s betting operations being spun off under group chief executive Peter George.
The UK arm of the company changed its name in March to Hilton Group from Ladbroke in order to reflect its increased focus on hotels, following the acquisition of the Stakis chain.
It owns the Hilton hotel brand outside the US and industry sources say it has been in negotiations with Hilton Hotels Corporation for years about the possibility of bringing the management of all the Hilton hotels back under one roof.