Strategy Statement
India Hospitality Corp.
28 September 2007
For Immediate Release 28 September 2007
India Hospitality Reaffirms Growth Strategy
New York, NY. - September 28, 2007 - Following the successful acquisition of
Mars Restaurants and SkyGourmet in July 2007, India Hospitality Corp. (LSE: IHC,
IHC or India Hospitality) today reaffirmed its commitment to its original
strategy of acquiring leisure, hospitality and travel related companies in India
that are well positioned to benefit from the country's long-term economic
growth, especially from the expansion of the middle class and increasing
domestic business and leisure travel.
Mr. Jason Ader, Chairman of the Board of India Hospitality stated, 'We have
never wavered from our original strategy to participate in the exciting growth
of India's economy and middle class through businesses that operate in the
leisure and travel industries. In particular, India Hospitality is very excited
about the long-term growth prospects of Mars and SkyGourmet and we are committed
to their long-term growth and prosperity.'
In July 2007, IHC closed on the acquisition of India-based Mars Restaurants
Private Limited (MRPL or Mars), an emerging hotel and restaurant company, and
SkyGourmet Catering Private Limited (SCPL or SkyGourmet), an airline catering
company operating out of four locations in India, for an aggregate purchase
price of US $110 million.
The Company maintains an option to purchase Nirula's, a leading restaurant chain
in India. Nirula's recently announced it is revamping existing outlets and
ramping up growth from 54 locations to 200 over the next two years.
About India Hospitality Corp.
IHC was created as a blank-check company to acquire Indian businesses or assets
in the hospitality, leisure, tourism, travel and related industries, including
but not limited to hotels, resorts, timeshares, serviced apartments and
restaurants.
In August 2006, IHC 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. The Company was sponsored and advised by Hayground Cove Asset
Management LLC, a New York-based investment management firm with approximately
US $1.9 billion in assets under management.
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, Bangalore, New Delhi and
Pune. For the nine months ended December 31, 2006, the combined entities had
audited revenues of approximately US $18.9 million and 1,700 employees.
For Further Information Contact:
Investor Relations Contact: ICR Inc.
William Schmitt
203-682-8200
Media Contact: Buchanan Communications
Richard Darby, Isabel Podda
+44 207 466 5000
Nominated Adviser and Broker: Deutsche Bank
Mumtaz Naseem
+44 20 7545 8000
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.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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