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The Chinese insurance company Anbang has topped Marriott’s latest bid for Starwood, the company that manages these hotel brands.

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This soap opera has been ongoing since November when Marriott offered $72.08 per share for Starwood. Anbang and Marriott have gone back and forth with the latest Anbang offer worth $82.75 per share.

I haven’t been covering the twists and turns and won’t cover them again until a sale is completed. When that happens, we will have plenty of time to sort out what that means for our SPG points.

I am rooting for SPG to remain independent (either not be purchased or purchased by the Chinese company) over a Marriott purchase because Marriott’s points are worth about 0.5 cents each while SPG points are worth 2.5 cents each. I see a Marriott purchase as a death sentence for the SPG program as we know it, though one in which execution will be stayed for at least a year from the purchase announcement.