Inspirato gets surprise takeover bid from firm started by its founders

A firm founded by Brad and Brent Handler has made an unsolicited takeover bid for another firm founded by Brad and Brent Handler.

And the Handlers, who no longer control either company, support the deal.

Exclusive Resorts, which the local brothers started alongside Shark Tank alum Tom Filippini in 2002, submitted a $39 million offer last week for Inspirato, the luxury travel company the two launched in 2011. Both companies are based in Denver.

The Handlers sold their stake in Exclusive Resorts , a similar members-only vacation club , in 2004 to AOL co-founder Steve Case, who is still the private company’s majority shareholder. The two left the company along with Filippini in 2009 and have no ownership in Exclusive Resorts, they told BusinessDen.

But despite a contentious departure from