Intrawest sells Panorama resort
Price not disclosed
Last Updated: Thursday, January 28, 2010 | 1:08 PM MT
CBC News
Related
Internal Links
Financially troubled Intrawest ULC announced Thursday it has sold the Panorama Mountain Village ski resort in Invermere, B.C., to a group of buyers.
The group, Panorama Mountain Village Inc., said the deal will include the resort's on-mountain and Nordic ski operations, a 50 per cent ownership position in the Greywolf Golf Course, all of Intrawest's commercial operations and lodging units in the village, and the land available for real estate development. The resort is one of the largest employers in the region.
Intrawest, the owner of the Whistler Blackcomb resort, shown above, has agreed to sell another of its assets, Panorama Mountain Village ski resort in Invermere, B.C., to a group of business people. (Randy Lincks/Associated Press) Last week, Wall Street financiers said they were going to put up for sale another high-profile Intrawest asset, the Whistler Blackcomb resort near Vancouver, while the facility is hosting Winter Olympic events next month.
Creditors who have loaned $1.4 billion US to Intrawest have effectively seized control of the company and are attempting to auction off its assets.
Rick Jensen, CEO of Panorama Mountain Village Inc., wouldn't disclose the price.
"I can't answer that because we're still waiting for regulatory approval, which should come next week," he told CBC News. "We paid a price that was fair to both sides."
A source has told CBC News that the group paid $27.5 million. The deal is due to close in February. The buyer group is made up of 18 people, most of whom own homes in Panorama.
"We have people from Calgary, we have people from Edmonton, we have people from England, we have people from Bermuda, all sharing the common thread of having a home in Panorama and loving the mountain." said Jensen, a real estate developer who has built homes at the Panorama resort for 10 years.
Jensen said the buyers will reinvest all profits into developing the resort.
Ian Galbraith, director of corporate communications with Intrawest, said the decision to sell was based on the fact that Panorama no longer fits with its strategy. He said it now intends to focus on Whistler Blackcomb, Mont Tremblant in Quebec and Blue Mountain in Ontario.
In 2006, Wall Street hedge fund Fortress Investments LLC bought Intrawest in a $2.8-billion US deal. Fortress recently missed a $524-million debt payment connected to that purchase.
The primary lender on the Intrawest deal in 2006 was defunct investment bank Lehman Brothers.
Share Tools
Latest Calgary News Headlines
- Alberta radar running again after breakdown
- Predicting severe weather patterns is still presenting a challenge for local weather watchers after four Environment Canada Doppler radars stopped working properly this week. more »
- Inquiry rules on death of troubled Alberta teen
- A fatality inquiry into the death of a mentally troubled Alberta teenager is recommending hospitals tighten rules on all outings for psychiatric patients. more »
- Alberta readies 60 new ambulances for service
- Around 60 new ambulances will soon be whizzing across the province thanks to a large purchase by Alberta Health Services. more »
- Suspicious death in S.E. investigated
- A man was found dead in southeast Calgary early Friday morning in what police are calling suspicious circumstances. more »
Top News Headlines
- Aylmer triple stabbing leads to first-degree murder charges

- The estranged partner of a young mother who was stabbed to death along with her parents at their home in Aylmer, Que., has been charged with first-degree murder Friday. more »
- B.C. premier unhappy with disgraced Mountie's transfer
- B.C. Premier Christy Clark says she is not happy with the RCMP decision to transfer a disgraced Alberta Mountie to the West Coast. more »
- The risks and responsibilities of taking on Mt. Everest

- The deaths of five climbers last weekend on Mt. Everest, with more summits underway this weekend, fuels the debate about the risks and responsibilities of high altitude climbing. more »
- Henrique's OT goal sends Devils into Stanley Cup final
- The New Jersey Devils will vie for a potential fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history after defeating the New York Rangers in six games in the Eastern final, courtesy of rookie Adam Henrique's goal early in overtime. more »
- Former MLA questions need for Alberta Party
- Inquiry rules on death of troubled Alberta teen
- Alberta radar running again after breakdown
- Suspicious death in S.E. investigated
- Police couldn’t stop double fatal crash, judge says
- Alberta readies 60 new ambulances for service
- TEDxYYC brings passionate speakers to Calgary today
- Calgary woman who killed mother gets 5 years
- Beltline attack leaves man critically injured

