Notice of AGM
India Hospitality Corp. Provides Strategic and Operational Business Unit
Update
IHC Posts Strong Growth in Fiscal Third Quarter
NEW YORK, Feb. 14 -- India Hospitality Corp. (LSE: IHC, IHC
or India Hospitality), today provided its shareholders with an operational
update for fiscal third quarter ended December 31, 2007. India's demand-driven
economy continued to benefit IHC's core businesses in the quarter, highlighted
with a year over year 83% increase in meals served at SkyGourmet (Sky) and 9%
growth in same store sales at Mars Restaurants (Mars).
Operating Outlook
"India Hospitality remains firmly committed to exceeding the forecasts it
presented to its investors on its July 2007 investor road show," said Chairman
of the Board Jason Ader. "IHC is at the nexus of three rapidly growing
consumer industries in India and is well positioned to capitalize on the
continued increase in demand in the hospitality and travel sectors of the
economy."
The company will continue to execute its growth strategy into 2008 and
beyond:
-- Gain market share in the airline catering industry through new kitchen
openings utilizing state of the art technology and signing new clients
-- Identify and execute accretive hotel development opportunities
-- Capitalize on the 35% annual increase in shopping mall square footage
in India to expand IHC's leading food service brands
-- Implement operational efficiencies across the company's businesses
-- Evaluate and execute high return acquisitions in each of the company's
business segments
-- Maintain and grow the infrastructure required by IHC's growing
hospitality company
-- Hire a new Chief Executive Officer to lead the growth of IHC's
businesses in the years to come
Business Segment Overview
"We are very pleased with the performance of each of IHC's business
segments," commented Rick Foyston, IHC interim CEO. "SkyGourmet continues to
expand its capacity into key markets, top line growth at Mars remains solid,
and Gordon House has a strong pipeline of accretive growth opportunities."
SkyGourmet
SkyGourmet's airline catering business experienced an 83% year over year
surge in total meals served during the quarter.
Sky is one of the leading two flight caterers in India's booming aviation
sector and the company anticipates continued growth in capacity, volumes and
cash flows. Sky added a new customer in the quarter -- Jet Lite -- to which
the company supplies snack boxes from its kitchens in Mumbai, Delhi and
Bangalore. The company now serves major domestic and international carriers
such as Kingfisher, Jet Airways, Indian Airlines and Air France.
Sky's cash flow margins contracted slightly in the quarter due to pre-
opening expenses at the company's newest kitchen units. IHC expects margins to
normalize as capacity utilization increases over time.
SkyGourmet continues to pursue its long-term growth strategy and is in the
process of expanding its Air Catering Unit in Mumbai by 50% and its fourth and
newest kitchen in Chennai opened in January 2008. The company's 2008 pipeline
already includes two new kitchens in Hyderabad and Kolkata, the addition of
which will ensure that Sky has operations in all six key markets where over
90% of the current Indian air passenger traffic exists.
Mars Restaurants
Quarterly same store sales at Mars grew 9% over the prior year. Margins
were impacted by higher input costs and increasing rents, factors that have
impacted the Indian retail and food service sectors overall. Recent price
increases at mars restaurants should offset the current quarter's food price
increase and should benefit fiscal fourth quarter results. We are currently
evaluating several new location opportunities for our Mars division with a
focus on high returns on invested capital.
Gordon House Hotels
Revenue at Gordon House Hotels (GHH) grew 8% over the prior year. EBITDA
margins were even with the prior year at 56%. Average Room Rates (ARR) and
average occupancy at the Colaba property in Mumbai stood at $170 and 87%,
respectively compared to an ARR of $121 and 81% occupancy.
Management is focused on capitalizing on the supply-demand imbalance in
the lodging industry in India. GHH currently has one owned and one managed
hotel, with three new properties in the pipeline. The company also owns an
ideally located four-acre parcel of land adjacent to the Delhi Airport.
Notice of Annual Meeting
India Hospitality Corp. will hold its Annual General Meeting of
shareholders on March 14, 2008 to approve the re-appointment of certain
directors to the board of directors of IHC. In connection with the Annual
General Meeting, shareholders will receive, among other things, a letter from
the Chairman of the board, notice of the Annual General Meeting, and a
performance report delivered by the Chief Executive Officer of IHC.
About India Hospitality Corp.
In August 2006, India Hospitality Corp. raised US $103 million in an IPO
and private placement and is listed on AIM, a market operated by London Stock
Exchange plc, under the ticker IHC. In July 2007, IHC closed on the
acquisition from Navis Capital Partners and its Affiliates of India-based Mars
Restaurants Private Limited, an emerging hotel and restaurant company, and
SkyGourmet Catering Private Limited, an airline catering company with 1,700
employees operating out of four locations in India.
In December 2007, in order to fund strategic growth initiatives, Hayground
Cove and Navis Capital jointly invested US $28 million of additional capital
in IHC, bringing their total invested capital to US $56 million. Following
such reinvestment, Hayground Cove and Navis own approximately 52% of India
Hospitality.
About Mars and SkyGourmet
Since its incorporation in 2000, Mars has diversified into bakery outlets
and operating and managing food courts and hotels. SkyGourmet was incorporated
in 2002 and is headquartered in Mumbai. SkyGourmet currently provides in-
flight catering services to a number of domestic and international airlines,
including Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, Air India Express, Indian
Airlines, Malaysian Airlines and Air France. It has operations in Mumbai, New
Delhi, Bangalore, and Chennai. For the nine months ended December 31, 2006,
the combined entities had audited revenues of approximately US $18.9 million
and 1,700 employees.
Deutsche Bank AG is authorised under German Banking Law (competent
authority: BaFin -- Federal Financial Supervising Authority) and with respect
to UK commodity derivatives business by the Financial Services Authority;
regulated by the Financial Services Authority for the conduct of UK business.
Deutsche Bank is acting exclusively for IHC and no-one else in connection with
the acquisition and related transactions and other matters referred to in this
announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than IHC for
providing the protections afforded to clients of Deutsche Bank AG nor for
providing advice in relation to the acquisitions and related transactions or
any matter referred to in this announcement.
Deutsche Bank is IHC's nominated adviser and broker for the purposes of
the AIM Rules for Companies. Its responsibilities as IHC's nominated adviser
and broker under the AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers are owed solely to
London Stock Exchange plc and not to IHC, any director of IHC or any other
person.
No offer or invitation to purchase or subscribe for ordinary shares in or
warrants to purchase or subscribe for ordinary shares or warrants of IHC is
being made by this announcement.
For Further Information Contact:
Investor Relations Contact: ICR Inc.
William Schmitt
203-682-8200
Nominated Adviser and Broker: Deutsche Bank
Mumtaz Naseem
+44 20 7545 8000
SOURCE India Hospitality Corp.
-0- 02/14/2008
/CONTACT: Investor Relations, William Schmitt of ICR Inc.,
+1-203-682-8200; or Nominated Adviser and Broker, Mumtaz Naseem of Deutsche
Bank, +44 20 7545 8000, both for India Hospitality Corp./