Holiday Inn 2006 Annual Report Download - page 4

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2 IHG Annual report and financial statements 2006
Chairman’s statement
2006 was the first full year of the new strategy for the
business launched by Chief Executive, Andrew Cosslett,
in 2005. It has been a year where the change of focus in our
business has delivered strong results, and the growth
potential of the business has been demonstrated.
Restructuring We continued to reduce the number of hotels we own during the year.
We sold 31 hotels in Continental Europe, generating proceeds of £680 million before
transaction costs, and retained all of them within our brand family under long term
contracts. The proceeds from hotels sold since April 2003 is now £3 billion, leaving
us owning approximately £1 billion (net book value) of hotels real estate.
Shareholder returns We made further returns to shareholders during the year,
bringing the total returned since March 2004 to over £2.7 billion. A further £31 million
remains to be returned through our ongoing share buyback programmes.
We are pleased to have announced a further £850 million return of funds,
comprising a £150 million share buyback and a £700 million special dividend,
with a proposed share consolidation. The special dividend payment and share
consolidation are due to be completed by the end of June 2007, and further
details will be sent to shareholders in due course.
Dividend increase As we come to the end of restructuring our capital base,
the Board is recommending a significant increase to the final dividend for 2006,
taking it to 13.3p per share. This will give a full year dividend of 18.4p, 20 per cent
higher than in 2005. Subject to approval at the Annual General Meeting, the final
dividend will be paid on 8 June 2007 to shareholders registered on 23 March 2007.
Board Richard Hartman, President of our Europe, Middle East and Africa region,
(EMEA) announced during 2006 that he would retire in September 2007, after
eight years with the Group. Richard has done an outstanding job leading EMEA
during a period of rapid change. Sir Howard Stringer has also stood down as
a Non-Executive Director, after three years on the Board. Howard provided
wise counsel through IHG’s early years. We thank them both for their service
and wish them well for the future.
Outlook The results we achieved in 2006 were the product of exceptional work by
our people across the Group. We have a clear position as the most owner-focused
global hotel company, with a deep understanding of what guests want from our
hotel brands. This will allow us to offer our employees and business partners
attractive growth opportunities and create further value for shareholders.
Accordingly, we continue to feel confident about the prospects for the Group.
David Webster Chairman