Accor, Hotels and Services: Growth Drivers - 2005 Financial Results
08 Marzo 2006 - 1:02AM
PR Newswire (US)
PARIS, March 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- in EUR millions 2004 2005
% change % change (reported) (like-for-like) Consolidated revenue
7,064 7,622 +7.9% +4.7% EBITDAR 1,825 1,986 +8.8% +6.3% EBITDAR
margin 25.8% 26.1% +0.3pt +0.4pt Profit before tax and non 513 603
+17.6% +17.5% recurring items Net profit 233 333 +42.9% 2005
Consolidated revenue rose by 7.9% to EUR7,622 million. At constant
scope of consolidation and exchange rates, the increase was 4.7%.
Ebitdar (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation,
amortization and rental expense) totaled EUR1,986 million, an
increase of 8.8% and Ebitdar margin stood at 26.1% of revenue.
Profit before tax and non recurring items rose by 17.6% to EUR603
million. The increase reflected the gradual improvement in margins
thanks to a more favorable hotel cycle, and efficient management of
holding costs. Net profit, Group share rose by 42.9% to EUR333
million in 2005. Earnings per share rose to EUR1.55 from EUR1.17 in
2004, based on the weighted average 214,782,601 shares in 2005. At
the Annual Meeting on May 10, 2006, Accor shareholders will be
asked to approve an ordinary dividend of EUR1.15 per share, payable
on May 17. Funds from operations increased 9.6% to EUR935 million.
With EUR4,396 million in total equity and minority interests for
EUR1,420 million in net debt at December 31, 2005, the gearing
ratio stood at 32%, compared with 71% at December 31, 2004. Return
on capital employed (ROCE) rose to 10.7% from 10.0% in 2004. On a
recommendation made by executive management, the Board of Directors
of Accor has validated the following first orientations: ACCOR, A
GROUP ANCHORED IN ITS TWO GLOBAL BUSINESSES: HOTELS AND SERVICES
Hotels - A strategic focus on the brands Accor (OTC:ACRFF) intends
to leverage its powerful brands and innovative and differentiated
products, to capitalize on its "leadership drivers". In terms of
operations, more powerful brands will enable a stronger revenue
growth. Making the brands more attractive will also support human
resources initiatives to attract the best talent. In terms of asset
management, more powerful brands will strengthen Accor's profile
and thus its strategy of partnering with leading real estate
companies around the world. Lastly, more powerful brands will
enable Accor to speed growth under ownership, management or
franchise operating structures. Accor's ambition is to make brands
even more attractive. These objectives bring Accor to create a
strategic marketing department to know clients better, to favor the
creation of innovative products, to advertise on the brands, to
promote them through internet portals, and to revitalize loyalty
programs. - From brand segmentation to operating structures
differentiation To optimize the hotel portfolio, hotel operating
structures must be tailored to individual market segments depending
on their return on capital employed. This rationalization process
means that the portfolio must be thoroughly reviewed to identify
strategic hotels to be managed under the appropriate long term
holding structure and non-strategic hotels that could be sold,
either outright or through sale & franchise-back arrangements.
Through this strategy, Accor plans to divest, between 2005 and
2008, around EUR1,500 million of assets. - New resources: for what
kind of development? Anticipating changes in global demand, Accor
plans to open more than 200,000 new rooms by 2010, mainly in
Economy and Budget hotels (50%). The openings will be in mature
countries (33%) and in emerging markets (67%). Overall, 70% of the
openings will involve low capital-intensive solutions (management
or franchise contracts), while 30% will be either owned or leased
properties. To fit to these objectives, Accor would invest EUR2,700
million by to 2010 with a target of 15% return on investment. The
Services business Accor Services has several objectives: to be No.1
on all markets, to be the leader in innovations and to achieve
double digit growth of its results. Accor Services has four lines
of business. Three of which are dedicated to companies: - Employee
benefit services - Incentive and loyalty programs - Expense
management and a service dedicated to public institutions, which
aims at guaranteeing the proper use of public funds. This market
enjoys very high growth potential because of an extended range of
products and operations start-ups in new countries. Opportunities
for acquisitions exist in order to increase market share or procure
skills and expertise or even sign partnerships. In this context,
Accor plans to invest EUR500 million between now and 2010 with a
20% ROCE objective. "Our 2005 results are in line with our
objectives," said Chief Executive Officer Gilles Pelisson.
"Moreover, with a much stronger financial position, we can envision
an ambitious development program particularly in emerging countries
to become the global leader in the economy and midscale segments.
Building on our core Hotels and Services businesses, we'll leverage
our increasingly powerful brands to improve operating margin and
return on capital employed in the years ahead." With 168,000 people
in 140 countries, Accor is the European leader and one of the
world's largest groups in travel, tourism and corporate services,
with two major international activities: - Hotels, with the
Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure, Suitehotel, Ibis, Etap Hotel, Formule 1,
Motel 6 and Red Roof Inns, representing more than 4,000 hotels and
470,000 rooms in 92 countries, as well such strategically related
businesses as restaurants and food services (with Lenotre and other
leading brands), casinos and travel agencies. - Services to
corporate clients and public institutions: 21 million people in 35
countries use a broad range of services (food vouchers, people care
and services, incentive, loyalty programs) engineered and managed
by Accor Services. Contacts Eliane Rouyer Senior Vice President
Investor Relations and Financial Communication Phone:
+33-(0)1-45-38-86-26 Anthony Pallier Investor Relations Phone:
+33-(0)1-45-38-86-33 For further information about Accor, visit
http://www.accor.com/ DATASOURCE: Accor CONTACT: Eliane Rouyer,
Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Financial
Communication, Tel: +33-(0)1-45-38-86-26, Anthony Pallier, Investor
Relations, Tel: +33-(0)1-45-38-86-33
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