Chile opens probe into Blackstone's hotel deal for Essendi

Chile's antitrust agency, the National Economic Prosecutor's Office (FNE), opened an investigation into the purchase of hotel operator Essendi by global investment funds Blackstone Inc. and Colony from French group Accor.

The review began with an initial notification on July 15, 2026. The agency deemed the filing incomplete twice, which required the parties to submit additional details before the file was cleared. The FNE officially launched the investigation on September 23, 2026, according to a resolution signed by Aníbal Palma Miranda, head of the FNE's Mergers Division.

Essendi is a property and leasing platform managing hotels across multiple countries, primarily in the economy and midscale segments under Accor brands such as Ibis Budget. The buyers are Blackstone and Colony, participating through EarlyBird SCA. The transaction aligns with Accor's asset-light strategy, allowing the French hospitality group to sell physical real estate while retaining commercial operations through long-term franchise agreements.